'v.-r 


M 


REGULATIONS 


fibrarD  of  i\t  Jftkral-street  Sfftietn 

IN    BOSTON. 

I. 

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This  book  was  placed  in  the  Library, 

No. 


^4^  ^^^^-.-^^  ^^^ 


■'? 


A    N 


APPEAL  to  the  PUBLIC, 

I    N 

BEHALF 

O  F    T  H  E 

CHURCH   OF   ENGLAND 

I    N 

AMERICA. 


I  Ml 

By  Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler,  D,  D. 

and  Miilionary  from  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  cf    ^ 
the  Go/pel,  &c.  "^ 


"  We  deftre  a  fair  Trial-^if  c,,,  are  guilty,  punijh  us-,  if 
^'  ^..  are  tnnocent,  protea  «;.»  Justin  Martyr.  ^ 


N  E  W-Y  O  R  K: 

Printed  by  James  Parker,  at  the  New-Prin- 
ting>Office,  in  Beaver-Street. 

M,DccXxm 


«*  A  BISHOP,  that  Ihall  have  the  chief 
"  Inlpeflion  over  thofe  whom  he  is  to 
"  ordain,  and  over  the  Labours  of  thofe  already 
*  placed  J  ^hom  he  Ihall  direft  and  aflift  in  every 
"  Thing ;  and  who  governs  himfelf  by  the  Rules 
**  of  the  primitive  Church,  and  by  the  Advice  of 
«^  his  Brethren,  is  the  likelieft  Inftrument  both  for 
"  propagating  and  preferving  the  Chriftian  Reli- 
'^  giop.**:  Bijhop  BurmL 


AH 

APPEAL  TO  THE  PUBLIC, 

IN    BEHALF 

Of  the  Church  of  England 
IN 

AM     E      RICA? 

WHEREIN 

The  Original  and  Nature  of  the  Episcopal 

Office  are  briefly  considered, 

REASONS 

POR  SENDING  BISHOPS  TO  AMERICA 
ARE  ASSIGNED, 

THE    PLAN 

QN   WHICH    IT    IS    PROPOSED    TO    SEND    THEM 
IS     STATED, 

AND 

THE    OBJECTIONS    AGAINST    SENDING    THEA^ 
ARE    OBVIATED    AND    CONFUTED: 

With  an  APPENDIX, 

WHEREIN  IS  GIVEN  SOME  ACCOUNT 

O  F 

An  Ai^o^jYMOus  Pamphj^et- 


ERRATA. 

THE  Author's  Inability  to  attend  upon  the  Prefs,  liatli 
occafioned  fome  Errata,  of  which  the  following  are  the 
moft  material,  which  are  to  be  corrected  thus:  In  Page  i. 
Line  lo,  for  the  Support,  read  Support  of  the.  Page  9  in  the 
Note,  for  Y2i^t,  read  Fai\i,  Page  14,  /.  i^,  fornor,  read  or. 
Page  21,  /.  2^,  for  this,  read  thefe.  Page  22  in  the  Notes , 
for  nifcis,  read  nefcis ;  for  Juftar,  read  Inllar ;  ajid  quidam, 
ir^^^quidem.  Page^J,  I.  2,  for  Ferfon,  read  Ferfons,  Page 
73,  /.  24,  for  The  Opinion,  read  His  Opinion.  Page  y6, 
/.  31,  for  full,  read  the  full.  Page  83  in  the  Note,  for  Chlan- 
dler,  rf^^  Chandler.  Page  88,  /.  22, /or  could,  read  fhould. 
Page  %g,  I.  30,  for  Others,  read  the  others.  Page  98,  /.  8, 
/or  King,  r^^^  Kings. 


T  O 
The  Moft  Reverend  Father  in  God, 

-    THOMAS^ 

Lord  Archbifliop  of  Canterbury, 
Primate  of  all  England,   &c* 

May  it  Pleafe  Tour  Grace^ 

TH  E  Arguments  for  fending 
Bifhops  of  the  Church  of  En- 
gland to  America,  are  fo  ftrong  and 
convincing,  that  an  Appeal  may  be 
made  to  the  World  for  the  Reafon- 
ablenefs  of  fending  them.  The  ge- 
neral Plan  which  has  been  long  fettled 
for  the  Regulation  of  their  Authority 
when  fent,  is  fo  well  calculated  to 
fecure  the  religious  Privileges  of  every 

Deno- 


11 


DEDICATION. 

Denomination  of  Chriftians,  that  no- 
thing more  than  a  proper  Explanation 
can  be  needful,  to  recommend  it  to 
the  Approbation  of  every  candid  and 
unprejudiced  Perfon.  For  Want  of 
this,  many  are  ftill  averfe  to  an  Ame- 
rican Epifcopate,  and  fome  are  induf- 
trioufly  employed  in  mifreprefenting 
the  Matter,  and  in  propagating  their 
Prejudices  and  Objections  againft  it. 
It  is  therefore  the  general  Opinion 
here,  that  it  is  at  length  become  ne- 
ceffary,  to  explain  this  Plan,  and 
thereby,  as  the  moft  effedual  Method, 
to  remove  thefe  Prejudices  and  Ob- 
jeftions. 

Such,  My  Lord,  is  the  Defign  of 
the  following  Appeal.  The  Author 
of  it  was  not  forward  to  undertake 
the  Work.  Want  of  Leifure,  and  a 
Confcioufnefs  of  Inability  to  execute 
it  properly,  were  Difficulties  in  his 
Way  not  eafy  to  be  furmounted.  But 
as  no  one  appeared  that  was  willing  to 

perform 


DEDICATION.       ni 

perform  what  all  feemed  to  allow  was 
neceflary  to  be  done,  and  as  he  was 
requefted  by  many  of  his  Brethren  to 
undertake  it,  he  finally  confented. 

Without  this  Apology,  the  Author 
would  not  prefume  to  infcribe  to 
Your  Grace  fo  imperfedl  a  Piece,  or 
to  afk  for  it  your  Patronage.  Nor 
indeed  would  any  Apology  juftify  him 
in  doing  fo,  did  he  not  know  that 
Your  Grace  takes  a  Pleafure  in  encou- 
raging every  well-meant  Endeavour, 
however  unfuccefsful  it  may  prove, 
to  ferve  the  Caufe   of  Religion  and 

the    Church   of   Chrift of  which 

amiable  Difpofition  your  whole  Life 
has  been  a  Proof. 

As  to  the  Church  of  England  in 
America^  it  will  ever  be  acknowledged 
with  all  Thankfulnefs,  that  none  has 
fhewn  for  it  a  more  affedbionate  Con- 
cern, or  treated  the  Members  of  it  or 
its  Clergy  with  more'  Kindnefs  and 

Conde- 


iv       DEDICATION. 

Condefceniion  than  Tour  Grace.  Se- 
veral of  them  You  have  honoured  with 
a  private  Correfpondence;  and  but 
few  have  gone  Home  from  this  Coun- 
try for  Holy  Orders  for  a  long  Courfe 
of  Years,  v/ho  have  not  been  able  on 
their  Return,  to  tell  of  the  great 
Obligations  You  have  conferred  upon 
them.  And  this  was  the  Cafe  long 
before  your  Advancement  to  that  high 
Station,  whereby  You  became  related 
to  all  of  them  as  their  Metropolitan, 
and  to  many  of  them  alfo  as  Preiident 
of  the  Society  for  the  Propag'ation  of 
the  Gofpel  in  foreign  Parts. 

Butbeiidesthefe  particular  Kindneffes 
{hewn  to  the  Clergy,  the  general  State, 
and  Intereft  of  the  American  Church, 
has  always  been  the  Objed  of  your 
clofe,  and  careful,  and  anxious  Atten- 
tion. None  has  ever  entered  fo  deeply 
into  the  Knowledge  of  her  Condition, 
or  had  fo  true  a  Senfe  of  her  Wants, 
or  reprefented  them  to  the  Public  in 

fo 


DEDICATION. 

fo  proper  and  ftriking  a  Light,    as 
Your  Grace  did  many  Years  ago,  in 
your  moft  excellent  anniverfary  Ser- 
mon   preached    before    the     Society. 
Therein  particularly  You  explained  the 
Need  and  Ufefulnefs  of  an  American 
Epifcopate;  and  what  You  then  faid 
and  publifhed  on  the  Subjed,  together 
with  what  You  have  continued  to  fpeak 
and   write  ever  fince,    on  all  proper 
Occafions,   has  probably  contributed 
more  to  prepare  the  Way  for  it,  fo 
far  as  it  has  been  prepared,  than  what 
has  been  faid,  and  written,  and  done, 
by  any  other  Perfon.  For  thefe  Things, 
as  well  as  on   other  Accounts,    the 
Clergy  and  Friends  of  the  Church  in 
America  revere  You,  with  Sentiments 
of  the  fmcereft  Gratitude.    They  look 
up  to  Tour  Grace  as  eminently  their 
Friend  and  Patron  ;  and  they  can  ne- 
ver defpair  of  the  Succefs  of  their  late 
Application,    while    fo  reafonable   a 
Caufe  is  fupported  by  your  Abilities 
and  Influence. 

a  At 


V 


vi        D  E  D  1  C  A  T  I  O  Kt 

At  the  fame  Time  they  are  not  in- 
fenfible  of  the  Obligations  they  are 
under  to  many  other  illuftrious  Per- 
fons,  and  efpecially  to  forne  great 
Prelates  of  the  Church,  who  have  been 
pleafed  to  become  their  Advocates  on 
this  Occafion:  And  it  is  not  doubted 
but  they  w^ill  continue  to  allift  and 
co-operate  with  Your  Grace  in  this 
good  Work,  of  refcuing  the  Ameri- 
can Church  from  the  Diftrefs  fhe  is 
under,  through  the  Want  of  an  Epif- 
Gopate.  Every  Attempt  to  relieve  her^ 
My  Lord^  is  really  an  Ad:  of  Charity ; 
and  it  may  properly  be  faid  that  "the 
Bleffing  of  ^^r  that  is  ready  to  perifh," 
will  come  upon  thofe  that  befriend  her 
in  this  Neceffity. 

As  the  following  Papers  were  drawa 
up  with  a  View  of  ferving  the  Caufe, 
which  you  have  always  had  fo  greatly 
at  Heart,  and  been  foremoft  in  promo- 
ting, in  that  RefpeB  they  can  be  ad- 
dreffed  to  none  fo  properly  as  to  Tour 

Grace 


DEDICATION,      vii 

Grace.  But  in  many  Refpecls  the 
OiFering  is  unworthy  of  your  Accep- 
tance; and  yet — lince  it  is  made  with 
an  Intention  of  publickly  exprelling, 
not  only  that  Reverence  which  is  due 
to  your  exalted  Station  in  the  Church, 
but  that  Gratitude  to  which  You  are 
entitled,  by  the  many  fignal  Proofs 
You  have  given  of  your  Attention, 
to  the  general  Intereft  of  Religion, 
and  efpecially  of  the  Church  of  En- 
gland in  America,  and  your  Concern 
for  it,  and  affiduous  Exertions  in  its 
Behalf;  it  is  humbly  hoped  that  it 
will   not  be  rejeded. 

If  it  may  be  received  alfo  as  a 
Teftimony  of  Gratitude,  for  particular 
Favours  which  Tour  Grace  has  con- 
defcended  to  beftow  on  the  Author,  it 
will  add  greatly  to  his  Happinefs* 

That  God  may  long  continue  your 
Life  and  Health,  fo  ufeful  to  the  Public, 
and  of  fuch  peculiar  Importance  to 

the 


viii     DEDICATION, 

the  Church  in  America— —and,  that 
You  may  have  the  Satisfaction  of  feeing 
all  your  pious  and  benevolent  Attempts 
to  promote  the  Happinefs  of  Mankind 
attended  w^ith  Succefs,  and  in  the  End 
find  them  glorioufly  rewarded — is  the 
daily  and  devout  Prayer  of, 


Mj  Lord, 


Tour  Grace* s  mofi  dutiful 
m^ahth-rv^n,  and  obliged  Son, 

in  Nenv-jerfey, 
June  24,   1767.  ^ 

and  obedient  humble  Servant^ 


Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler, 


(  1^  ) 


Advertifenient  to  the  Reader, 

^HE  Author  of  the  following  Appeal,  has  faid^ 
by  JVay  of  Apology^  that  '^  he  was  requejied  by 
*'  many  of  his  Brethren  to  undertake  it^  He  thinks  it 
not  amifs  to  declare  more  particularly^  with  the  fa^ne 
View^  that  the  Tafi  was  Jirft  impofed  upon  him  by 
the  very  worthy  and  Reverend  Dr.  Johnfon  ^/Strat- 
ford in  Connc6ticut.  From  that  venerable  Ferfon 
a  Work  of  this  Nature  would  have  come^  with  more 
Propriety^  and  greater  Advantage  to  the  Caufe.  For 
an  Appeal  to  the  Public  in  Behalf  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  America,  on  the  prefent  Occafion^ 
could  be  made  by  none  fo  properly^  or  with  fo  good 
Effe^f.,  as  by  him^  who  has  fo  frequently  fignalixed 
himfelf  as  its  Advocate^  for  the  Courfe  of  more  than 
Forty  Tears.,  and  who.,  for  a  confiderahle  Fart  of  that 
^ime^  has  been  anxioujly  foUiciting  the  Caufe  of  an 
American  Epifcopate.  But  a  Tremor  in  the  Hand., 
which  caufes  him  to  write  with  the  utmofi  Difficulty 
himfelf.,  made  it  necejfary  that  hefJjould  leave  the  Work 
for  another.  He  thought  proper  to  apply  to  the  Author^ 
whofe  Obligations  to  him  were  fuch.,  that  he  could  not 
refufe  hifn  any  'Thing  in  his  Power ^  without  incuring 
the  Imputation  of  Ingratitude  and  Injuflice. 

At  the  Time  when  this  Treaty  was  nearly  concluded^ 
the  Clergy  of  New- York  and  New-Jerfey,  being  met 
together  in  a  voluntary  Convention,  and  ajfifted  by 
fome  of  their  Brethren  from  the  neighbouring  Pro- 
vinces,  took  into  Confideration  the  Propriety  and  Ex^ 
pediency  of  addr effing  the  Public y  on  the  Subje5l  of  an 
American  Epifcopate,  After  a  thorough  Difcuffion  of 
the  Point.,  they  were  unanimoufly  of  Opinion.,  that  fair- 
ly  to  explain  the  Plan  on  zvhich  American  Bifhops  had 


ADVERTISEMENT 

heen  requejled^  to  lay  before  the  Public  the  Reafons  of 
this  Requeft^  to  anfwer  the  Objections  that  had  been 
made^  and  to  obviate  thofe  that  might  be  otherwife 
conceived  againft  it^  was  not  only  proper  and  expedient^ 
hut  a  Matter  of  NeceJJity  and  Duty.  It  was  accor- 
dingly voted  that  Something  to  this  Purpofe  fhould  be 
piiblijhed,  and  the  Author  was  appointed  to  this  Ser- 
vice—with Liberty^  however^  to  make  the  'Time  of  his 
performing  it  mofi  convenient  to  himfelf  Excufes  were 
not  admitted^  and  a  Refufal  could  not  be  juftijied, 

The  Author,  being  brought  thus  under  double  En- 
gagements, determined  to  acquit  himfelf  as  well  as  his 
Circumftances  and  Abilities  would  permit.  In  Order 
to  this,  he  zvas  careful  to  follow  the  Directions  he  had 
received,  and,  as  he  had  Opportunity,  to  confult  the 
mofi  judicious  of  his  Friends,  in  Regard  to  the  Method 
and  Management  of  the  Work,  How  he  has  fuc- 
ceeded,  mufi  be  fuhmitted  to  the  Judgment  of  the 
Reader,  whofe  Candour  is  requefted. 

It  gives  the  Author  great  Pleafure,  to  find  that  hi^ 
Sentiments  have  been  Jo  clearly  and  forcibly  expreffed, 
by  The  Right  Reverend  the  Lord  Bifhop  of  Lan- 
daff,  in  his  excellent  anniverfary  Sermon  preached  be- 
fore the  Society  in  February  lafi.  The  Thanks  of 
every  Friend  of  the  American  Church  are  due  to  His 
LordHiip,  for  fo  feafonable  and  fpirited  an  Affertion 
and  Vindication  of  its  Rights ;  from  which  it  is  not 
doubted  but  the  following  Extract  will  be  acceptable 
to  the  Reader,  although  for  Want  of  Room  it  mufi  of 
Necejfity  be  fhort, 

''  The  want  of  Bifhops  (in  America)  hath  been 
"  all  along  the  more  heavily  lamented,  becaiife 
*'  it  is  a- cafe  fo  fingular,  that  it  cannot  be  paral- 
"  leled  in  the  Chriftian  world.  For  what  fed; 
*'  wao  ever  any  where  at  all  allowed,  that  was  nop 

"  allowed 


ii 


TO    THE    READER.  li 

allowed  the  means  within  themfelves  of  providing 
for  the  continual  cxercife  of  their  worfhip  ?  the' 
granting  one  without  the  other  would  be  but  a 
mockery.  Yet  fuch  is  the  ftate  of  our  church 
in  the  colonies  ;  and  at  a  time,  and  in  a  realm, 
where  the  rights  of  confcience  are  beil  under- 
Itood,  and  moil  fully  allowed  and  protected. 
All  feels  of  Prcteftant  Chriflians  at  hom.e,  and 
all,  fave  one,  throughout  our  colonies,  have  the 
full  enjoyment  of  their  religion.  Even  the  Ro- 
milh  fuperftition,  within  a  province  lately  added 
to  the  Britifh  dominions,  is  completely  allowed 
*'  in  all  points ;  it  hath  Bifnops.— Thus  ftands  the 
*'  cafe  of  all  churches  in  our  colonies,  except  only 
*'  the  church  here  by  law  ellabliflied ;  that  alone 
"  is  not  tolerated  in  the  whole,  it  exifts  only  in 
*'  part,  in  a  maimed  flate,  lopt  of  Epifcopacy,  an 
"  efTential  part  of  its  conftitution.  And  whence 
*'  this  difgraceful  diftindlion  ?  whence  this  mark 
**  of  diilruil  ?  what  is  the  fear  ?  what  the  danger  ? 
"  A  few  perforis  veiled  wich  authority  to  ordain 
*'  miniiters,  to  coniirm  youth,  and  to  vifit  their 
*'  own  clergy.  Can  two  or  three  perfons,  reilrain- 
"  ed  to  theie  fpiritual  functions,  be  dangerous  to 
"  any  in  any  matter  ?  in  what  ?  or  to  whom  ?  Can 
*'  they  poiTibly,  fo  limited,  on  any  pretence  what- 
*'  ever,  attempt  to  moleil  any  in  their  religious 
*'  concerns?  Can  they  invade  the  rights  and  jurif- 
"  di(5lion  of  magiilrates?  Can  they  infringe  the 
"  liberties  of  the  people  ?  Can  they  weaken,  or  be 
"  thought  difpofed  to  weaken,  the  fidelity  of  the 
''  colonies  to  his  Majeily,  or  their  dependence  on 
"  this  country  ?  To  thefe  duties,  if  there  be  any 
"  difference,  the  members  of  this  church,  as  fuch 
•'  are  bound  by  one  ipecial  motive,  befides  the 
"  many  motives  common  to  them  with  other  fub- 
"  jecls."    Page  22,  &c. 


CONTENTS. 

^HE  INTRODUCTION,  Page  i 

SECTION    I. 

A  Sketch  of  the  Arguments  in  fa^vour  of  Epifcopacy,  p.   3 

SECTION    U. 

The  Po-Mers  peculiar  to  the  Epif copal  Office  Jhenvn  to  he  thofe  of 
Government,  Ordination   and  Confirmation.  P*   '3 

SECTION    in. 

That  the  Church  in  America,  ^without  an  Epifcopate,  is  neceffarily 
dejiitute  of  a  regular  Gonjernmenty  and  cannot  enjoy  the  Benefits 
if  Ordination  and  Confirmation,  p.   26 

S  E  C  T  I  O  N    IV. 

The  unparalleled  Hardjhip  of  this  Cafe  reprefented,  p.   39 

SECTION    V. 

Reafons  ajpgned  njuhy  the  Church  in  America  has  been  thus  ne- 
gleJled,  p.  47 

SECTION    VI. 

That  the  prefent  funSiure  is  apprehended  to  he  fa^vourable  to  the 
Epifcopate  in  ^uefiion,  P>  54 

SECTION    VII. 

The  Cafe  of  the  American  Heathens  particularly  confidered,  and 
fijeivn  to  require  an  Epifcopate,  p.  6 1 

SECTION    VIII. 

The  Plan  on  ivhich  American  Bijhops  ha<ve  been  Yequefied,  fairly 
fated,  'with  Expofidations  on  the  Reafonahknefs  thereof  p.   75 

SECTION    IX. 

That  the  Epifcopate  propofed  cannot  hurt  the  Dijfenters,  and  is 
free  fro7n  all  reajonable  Obje6iions,  P*   ^7 

SECTION    X. 

The  Cafe  of  Tithes  difiinSlly  examined,  and  the  Apprehenfion  of 
being  forced  to  pay  them  in  this  Country,  proved  to  be  intirely 
groundlefs,  Jp-  97 

S  E  C  T  I  O  N     XI. 

Farther  Sifpicions  and  Ohjedions  ob'viated,  and  the  Subjed  con- 
cluded, p.   J  07 

An  Appendix.  P*    I  ^  9 


A    N 

A      P      P      E      A      L 

T  O    T  H  E 

PUBLIC,    &c. 


The  Introduction. 

HAT  Application  has  been  lately, 
made  to  our  Superiors,  by  the 
Clergy  of  feveral  of  the  Colonies, 
requefting  one  or  more  Bijhops  to 
be  fent  to  America^  is  a  Matter 
now  generally  known,  and  was 
never  intended  to  be  kept  as  a 
Secret.  As  there  is  great  Reafon  to  hope,  both 
from  a  Review  of  the  Arguments  that  were  offered 
in  the  Support  of  AddrelTes  that  were  tranfmit- 
ted  on  the  Occafion,  and  from  the  favourable 
Difpofition  of  many  in  Authority,  that  thisRequefl 
in  due  Time  will  be  granted  •,  it  has  been  thought 

B  proper 


AN    APPEAL 

proper,  in  a  public  Manner,  to  inform  all  who 
may  imagine  themfelves  to  be  any  Ways  concer- 
ned in  the  Event  of  our  Application,  candidly  and 
explicitly^  for  what  Reafons,  and  with  what  Views, 
an  American  Epifcopate  is  fo  earnellly  defired  by  the 
Clergy,  and  the  other  Friends  and  Members  of  the 
Church. 

Some  Perfons  are  faid  to  have  been  alarmed  by 
this  Condu6t  of  the  Clergy  ;  but  when  the  Cafe 
fhall  be  duly  explained  and  underilood,  it  is  not 
apprehended  that  any  Uneafinefs  will  remain,  or 
that  any  Oppofition  can  be  formed  againft  the 
Execution  of  a  Plan,  fo  reafonable  in  itfelf,  fo  ne- 
ceffary  to  the  Church  here,  and  fo  univerfally 
harmlefs  to  others  of  every  Denomination.  As  no 
Invafion  of  the  civil  or  religious  Privileges  of  any, 
whether  Churchmen  or  Diffenters,  is  thereby  in- 
tended, it  is  hoped  that  every  Objedtion,  or  even 
Doubt  or  Sufpicion  of  that  Nature,  will,  by  this 
Method,  be  intirely  obviated.  But  fhould  any 
Objedtions  continue  which  fhall  be  thought  to  de- 
ferve  Notice,  the  Objedlors  are  invited  to  pro- 
•pofe  them  in  fuch  a  Manner,  that  they  may  be 
fairly  and  candidly  debated,  before  the  Tribunal  of 
the  Publick  ;  and  if  none  fhall  be  offered,  it  will 
be  taken  for  granted  that  all  Parties  acquiefce  and 
are  fatisfied> 


SECT. 


TO     THE    PUBLIC.  3 

SECTION     I. 

A  Sketch  of  the  Arguments  in  Favour  of  Epifcopacy. 

IN  Order  to  judge  properly  of  the  Subjea:  before  Sect, 
us,  it  is  neceflary  to  premife,  and  it  fliould  be  ^• 
well  confidered,  that  the  Church  of  England  is  £- 
pifcopal,  and  confequently  holds  the  Neceffity  of 
Bifhops  to  govern  the  Church,  and  to  confer  Ec- 
<:lefiaftical  Powers  upon  others.  Of  this  there  can 
be  no  Difpute,  fince  many  of  her  public  Offices, 
and  indeed  the  whole  Syftem  of  her  Condud  with 
Regard  to  the  Clergy  is  founded  on  this  Principle. 
In  the  general  Preface  to  the  Ordination  Offices 
fhe  declares,  that  «  it  is  evident  to  all  Men  dili- 
"  gently  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  ancient 
"  Authors,  that  from  the  Apoftles  Time  there 
*'  has  been  this  Order  in  Chrift's  Church,  Bifhops, 
"  Priefts  and  Deacons,  as  feveral  Offices."  And 
her  Pradiceof  admitingnone  to  officiate  as  Clergy- 
men, who  have  not  been  ordained  by  Biffiops,  is  a 
Proof,  that  (he  efteems  every  other  Ordination  to 
be,  at  leall,  irregular  and  defedive.  It  is  not  ne- 
ceflary  to  enter  upon  a  particular  Defence  of  this 
Dodrine,  in  an  Undertaking  of  this  Nature  ;  fmce 
our  prefent  Plea  is  equally  valid,  whether  thefe 
Principles  are  founded  rightly  or  wrongly.  How- 
ever, a  brief  Sketch  of  the  Arguments,  whereby 
the  Neceffity  of  Epifcopal  Government  is  defended, 
may,  on  this  Occafion,  be  not  altogether  ufelefs  or 
improper. 

It  is  an  eflential  Dodrine  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, that  none  can  have  any  Authority  in  the 

B  2  Chrifti^n 


4 


AN     APPEAL 


Sect.  Chriftian  Church,  but  thofe  who  derive  it  from 
•  Chrill,  either  mediately  or  immediately.  Thofe  who 
receive  Authority  immediately  from  Chrift,  before 
they  can  expedt  SubmifTion  to  it  from  others,  muft 
be  able  to  prove  that  they  have  it  ^  for  which  no- 
thing lefs  can  fuffice,  at  this  Diy,  than  the  Power 
of  working  Miracles.  Thofe  who  receive  it  medi- 
ately^ muft  derive  it  from  thofe  Perfons  whom 
Chrift  has  authorized  to  convey  it,  i.  e,  they  muft 
receive  it  by  a  regular  SuccelTion.  For  any  to  fay, 
that  fuch  a  Succeffion  cannot  be  proved,  is  infuffi- 
cient :  it  is  incumbent  on  the  Objedors  to  prove 
that  the  Succeffion,  by  which  we  hold,  has  been  in- 
terrupted. Proof  of  this,  although  zealoufly  at- 
tempted, has  never  yet  been  made  -,  and  could  this 
Point  once  be  made  clear,  it  v/ould  alfo  prove  far- 
ther, that  Chrift  has  negledled  to  provide  for  his 
Church,  in  a  Cafe  fo  elTential  to  the  very  Being  of 
it,  notwithftanding  his  having  exprefsly  promifed  to 
be  "  ever  with  it,  to  the  End  of  the  World." 

Men  may  ridicule  the  Notion  of  uninterrupted 
Succeffion  as  they  pleafe  •,  but  if  the  Authority  of 
the  Clergy  is  derived  from  Chrift,  (and  if  it  is  not, 
they  are  no  Minifters  of  Chrift)  they  muft  receive  it 
in  one  of  the  Ways  already  mentioned.  And  if  the 
Succeffion  be  once  broken,  and  the  Power  of  Ordi- 
nation once  loft,  not  all  the  Men  on  Earth — not  all 
the  Angels  in  Heaven,  without  an  immediate  Com- 
miffion  from  Chrift,  can  reftore  it.  It  is  as  great 
an  Abfurdity,  on  St.  Paul's  Principles,  for  a  Man 
to  preach  without  being  properly  fent^  as  it  is  to 
hear  without  a  Preacher,  or  to  believe  in  him  of 
whom  we  have  never  heard. 

As  Chrift  is  the  great  Founder  of  the  Church, 
fo  he  is  the  only  Fountain  of  Ecclefiaftical  Autho- 
rity.   Whatever  general  Laws  he  was  pleafed  to 

injoin, 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  5 

injoin,  mud  be  of  indifpenfible  Obligation  to  all  Sect. 
his  Followers.  Indeed,  with  Regard  to  the  Go-  ^' 
vernment  of  the  Church,  his  Lav/s  are  exprefled 
in  fuch  general  Terms,  that  we  muft  neceflarily 
have  Recourfe  to  thofe,  whom  he  immediately  in- 
trufted  with  the  Government  of  his  Church,  for  a 
more  particular  Explanation  of  them. 

That  the  Apoftles,  "  to  whom  he  fhewed  himfelf 
"  alive  after  his  Pailion,  being  feen  of  them  Forty 
"  Days,  and  fpeaking  of  the  Things  pertaining  to 
*'  the  Kingdom  of  God,^'  underflood  the  Laws  of 
Chrift,  is  not  to  be  doubted  :  and,  as  they  were 
alfo  conduced  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  the  naore  ex- 
plicit and  particular  Rules  v/hich  they  have  given 
for  the  Government  of  the  Church,  muft  be  re- 
ceived— either  as  authentic  Explanations  of  Chrift's 
general  Laws,  or  as  Regulations  that  are  agreeable 
and  conformable  to  them.  To  this  muft  be  ad- 
ded, that  the  public  Pra5fice  of  the  Apoftles  is 
a  faithful  and  plain  Comment  on  the  Lav/s  of 
Chrift,  unlefs  we  can  fuppofe  them  to  have  been 
unacquainted  with,  or  difobedient  to,  his  divine 
Will ;  and  it  is  of  equal  Authority  with  any  written 
Inftrudions. 

Now  if  we  carefully  examine  the  Writings  of  the 
Apoftles,  and  the  Canonical  Records  of  their  Pro- 
ceedings, I  muft  think  that  thefe  Things  will  evi- 
dently appear, — that  our  blefied  Saviour,  before 
his  Afcenfion,  committed  the  Government  of  his 
Church  upon  Earth,  intirely  to  them — that  this 
Government  was  exercifed  by  them— that  they  con- 
veyed this  Power  to  others,  to  be  communicated 
fucceflively  to  others,  to  the  lateft  Pofterity — par- 
ticularly, that  thefe  their  SuccefTors  were  an  Order 
diftindb  from,  and  fu  peri  or  to,  thofe  who  are  nov/ 
called  Preft)yters"^and  tha.t  none  who  were  not  of 

this 


6  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  this  higlieft  Order,  had  the  Powers  of  Ordination 
^'  and  Government  committed  to  them.  It  would 
Jead  me  too  far  from  my  prefent  Defign,  to  eila- 
bhfh  thefe  Points  by  particular  Proof;  nor  can  it 
be  nccefTary,  as  feveral  of  the  Fadts  that  fupport 
them,  have  been  brought  to  a  clofe  Examination, 
and  fairly  flated  to  the  Public,  in  the  Inftances  of 
James  'dtjerufakm^  Timothy  ztEphefus^  'Titus 2itCretey 
th.t  Angels  of  the  Seven  Churches  of  Afia^  &c.  * 

Let  us  now  confider  what  Evidence  arifes  to  fa- 
vour thefe  Conclufions,  from  the  general  State  of 
the  Primitive  Church.  The  Travels  of  fome  of  the 
Apoftles  are  related  in  Scripture,  and  from  thence, 
as  well  as  from  other  Proofs,  it  appears,  that  with 
amazing  Succefs  they  planted  and  fettled  Churches 
in  all  the  moil  confiderable  Countries  of  Afia  and 
Ezirope,  v/ithin  the  Compafs  of  not  many  Years. 
And  it  is  a  Fa6c  well  known,  that  all  the  Churches 
that  were  gathered  during  the  Firft  Century^  whe- 
ther immediately  by  the  Apoftles,  or  their  Mif- 
fionaries,  were  under  the  Dire6lion  of  fome  or 
other  of  that  venerable  Order.  Men  of  the  molt 
eminent  and  undoubted  Piety,  who  had  been  ho- 
noured with  their  intimate  Acquaintance,  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  Apoftles  to  fuperintend  Churches 
in  certain  limited  Diftrids,  fome  of  whom  were 
choien  to  fucceed  them  in  thofe  Churches  which 
they  had  always  kept  under  their  own  more  im- 
mediate Tnfpedtion.  So  that  during  this  Period, 
while  the  Chriftian  Church  was  governed  by  the 
Apoftles,  and  others  of  their  Appointment,  no- 
thing, in  our  Opinion,  but  grofs  Prejudice,  or  a 

wrangling 

*  See  Archbiftiop  Potter  on  Church  Go'vernment.  See  alfo  Mr, 
Learning's  Defence  of  the  Epifcopal  Go'vernment,  ^c,  againft  the  Ob= 
ie6tiou3  of  Mr.  JFg/lts  and  Dr.  Chauncj. 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  7 

wrangling  and  captious  Difpofition,  to  fay  noworfe.  Sect. 
can  lead  any  to  fufpe6l  or  afTert,  that  it  v/as  pxia- 
tcrially  corrupted,  or  that  it  had  departed,  in  any 
confiderable  Degree,  from  that  Plan  of  Govern- 
ment which  Chrift  had  inflituted.  The  Govern-* 
ment  of  the  Church  is  as  much  a  pofitive  Inftitu- 
tion  as  the  Chriflian  Sacraments,  and  the  Laws 
relating  to  it  bind  us  as  llrongly,  as  the  Laws 
which  oblige  us  to  receive  Baptifm  or  the  Holy 
Eucharill.  As  fuch  they  were  ccnfidered  in  the 
Period  we  are  treating  ofj  and  any  Attempt  to 
change  them  would  have  been  treated  with  the 
fame  Indignation  and  Refentment  by  the  Chriilians 
of  that  Age,  as  if  the  Laws  relating  to  the  Sacra- 
ments had  been  wilfully  violated. 

And  if  we  confider  the  general  Charadter  of 
Chriftians,  and  the  State  of  the  Church,  in  the 
Second  and  Third  Centuries^  we  fhall  find  it  not  eafy 
to  believe,  that  there  could  have  been  any  efTen- 
tial  Variation  or  Departure,  from  the  original  Plan 
of  Difcipline  and  Government  committed  to  the 
Church.  Chriftianity  ftill  continued  to  be  attack- 
ed with  all  the  Engines  of  worldly  Power  and  Policy, 
and  had  nothing  to  fupport  it,  but  its  own  rational 
Evidence,  accompanied  with  the  Power  and  Spirit 
of  God,  and  the  Expedation  of  Happinefs  in  an 
invifible  State,  But  very  few  worldly  Profpeds 
and  Motives  could  operate  either  on  the  Clergy  or 
private  Chriftians,  when  they  all  knew  that  their 
Religion  tended  to  deprive  them  of  all  worldly  Ad- 
vantages, and  would  probably  caufe  them  to  be  a- 
bufed,  and  infulted,  and  pcrfecuted,  even  to  Death- 
Their  only  Dependance  was  on  their  afcended  Re- 
deemer, for  whofe  Sake,  and  in  Obedience  to 
v/hom,  they  facrificed  all  the  Eafe  and  Happinefs 
and  Glory  t>f  the  World,  efteeming  them  but  as 

Drofs 


\ 

8  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  Drofs  and  Dung  in  Competition  with  their  Duty. 
In  this  State,  and  with  this  Difpofition,  every  Law 
of  Chrift  was  valued  more  than  Life,  every  re- 
ceived Ufage  and  Practice  of  the  Church  was  re- 
vered as  facred,  by  Chriflians  in  general. 

And  as  w^e  are  obliged  to  believe,  that  but  few 
could  have  been  defirous  of  making  Innovations, 
fo  it  is  utterly  incredible  that  many  would  have 
been  willing  to  fubmit  to  them,  in  Matters  of  Im- 
portance. How  firmly  the  Chriftians  of  thofe 
Days  were  attached  to,  and  how  confcientioufly 
they  followed,  whatever  they  efteemed  to  be  an  In- 
ftitution  of  Chrift  or  his  Apoftles,  the  ^arto-de- 
ciman  Controverfy,  or  the  Difpute  which  divided 
the  Church  about  the  proper  Time  for  the  keeping 
of  Eafier^  among  others,  is  a  noted  Proof.  And 
although  in  this  Point  one  Party  muft  have  been 
miftaken,  yet  it  is  manifeftly  a  Matter  of  no  great 
Confequence,  and  the  Church  at  that  Time  was 
divided  in  their  Judgment  :  and,  it  by  no  Means 
follows  from  this  Inftance,  that  the  Church  might 
alfo  have  been  miftaken  in  Matters  of  the  greateft 
Weight,  fuch  as  thofe  of  Faith  and  Government, 
elpecially  when  all  were  united  in  Opinion. 

And  as  the  Pradice  of  the  primitive  Church  was 
a  faithful  Comment  on  the  Laws  of  Chrift,  and 
his  Apoftles,  relating  to  the  Government  of  the 
Church ;  fo  it  is  not  fo  difficult  a  Matter,  to  dif- 
cover  what  that  Pradtice  was,  as  fome  may  ima- 
gine,    The  Works  of  the  Apoftolical  Fathers  * 

arc 

*  The  Authenticity  of  fome  of  thefe  has  been  warmly  difputed, 
cfpecially  of  the  Epiltles  of  St.  Ignatius \  and  Dr.  Chauncy  oti  Bojlon. 
has,  within  a  few  Years,  in  an  Appendix  to  his  Dudleian  LeSlure, 
endeavoured  mofl:  zealoufly  to  invalidate  their  Teftimony.  But 
the  Do6lor  undoubtedly  knows  that  he  has  been  able  to  offer  no- 
thing 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  9 

are  ftill  extant — the  Writings  ftill  remaining  of  the  Sict. 
Second  and  Third  Centuries  are  numerous — we  have     ^' 
not  only  the  Chrijiian  Apologies  of  thofe  Times,  in 

which 

thing  ne^iv  on  foexhaufted  a  Subjed?-;  and  others  know,  that  he  has 
faid  Nothing  againll  the  A-uthenticity  of  thefe  Epiltles,  but  what 
has,  long  ago,  been  fairly  and  fully  confuted. 

Although  the  Advocates  for  Epifcopacy  fee  no  NeceiTity  for 
giving  up  the  Teftiniony  of  St.  Ignatius^  it  is  not  from  an  Opinion 
that  their  Caufe  would  labour  under  any  great  Diftrefs,  without 
that  Support.  It  has  a  much  furcr  Foundation  to  reft  upon,  and 
they  are  willing  to  have  it  tried  on  the  Footing  of  pure  Scnpture 
Evidence,  as  well  as  that  of  publick  and  notorious  Fa6ls. 

Hard  is  the  Fate  of  ancient  Writers  !  For  if  they  do  not  luckily 
countenance  modern  Opinions,  either  their  Credit  will  be  direftly 
attacked,  or  their  Arguments  ridiculed  or  fophiftically  evaded  ; 
and  if  nothing  lefs  will  ferve  the  Authenticity  of  their  Writings* 
and  perhaps  that  fuch  Pcrfons  ever  exited,  will  be  difput^  d.  And 
when  an  obdinate  Cppofition  is  once  undertaken,  whether  from 
latereft,  or  Spleen  and  Malignity,  no  anc'ent  Authors  are  fo 
fecure,  not  even  fomt  of  thole  of  the  Holy  Bible,  but  that  fuch 
Adventurers  may  be  able  to  do  fon^e  Injury  to  their  Reputation 
and  Authority.  This  Remark  accounts  for  much  of  the  Oppofi- 
tion  St.  Ignatius  met  with  in  the  laft  Century  :  Prejudice  and  a  par- 
tial Attachment  to  particular  Syften?s  may  probably  account  for 
the  Remainder. 

Father  Hardouin^  whofe  general  literary  Chara6lcr  was  not  con- 
temptible, is  a  remarkahlelnftance  to  what  Lengths  Prejudice,  or 
rather  an  incomprehenfibly  whimiical  Humour,  may  carry  a  Man, 
in  Cafes  of  this  Nature.  In  a  large  Worl'  of  his,  printed  in  Paris 
1693,  "  He  undertakes  to  prove  from  Medals,  that  the  greater 
"  Part  of  thofe  Authors,  which  have  paffed  upon  the  Moderns 
"  for  ancient,  were  forged  by  fome  Monks  of  the  xiiith  Century, 
*'  who  gave  to  them  thefeveral  Names  of  Homer,  Plato,  Ariftotle, 
"  Plutarch,  &c.  Tertullian,  Origen,  Bafil,  Auguftine,  &»:.  He 
•*  only  excepts  out  of  this  monkifli  Maniifa^ure,  the  Works  of 
**  Cicero,  Pliny's  Natural  Hiftory,  Virgil's  Georgicks,  and  Horace-'* 
<*  Satyrs  and  Epiftles.  Thefe  he  fuppofes  the  only  genuine  Monu- 
«*  ments  of  Antiquity  rem^i.ing,  except  fome  few  Tn'criptions 
«  and  Fafte;  and  with  the  Aliiitance  of  thefe,  he  thinks  that  thefe 
'*  Monks  drew  up  and  tafhioned  all  the  other  ancient  Vv'rirings, 
<*  as  Terence  Plays,  Livy's  and  Tscitus's  Hiftory,  VirgiTs  JEntxd^ 
•*  Horace's  Odes,  &c  nay  he  pufhed  rhi-;  Chimera  fo  far,  that  he 
*'  fancied  he  could  fee  plainly  enough,  that  ^neas  m  Virgil  was 
•*  defigned  for  Jefus  Chrift,  and  Horace's  Mill refs  La!age  tor  the 
<*  ChrilVian  Religion  "  f  It 'S  well  for  thefe  ancient  r'  uthors,  that 
in  a  Cafe  which  moft  People  can  better  judge  of,  this  lame  Father 
Hardouin  could  not  diltinguifh  Partridge  from  Horfe  Flefli. 

t  See  Dr.  Jortirfs  Remarks  on  Ecchfiajlical  Hijlcryy  Vol.  i,  Pag« 
4a —and  the  New  dnerd  Biograp hical  Di^imary. 

c 


lo  A  N  ^A  P  P  E  A  L 

Sect,  which  many  Pra61;ices  of  the  Church  are  explained, 
^'  but  private  Efiftles  from  Friends  to  Friends,  in 
which  they  are  mentioned  without  Guard  or  Dif- 
guife — we  have  the  Regulations  and  Decrees  of 
Councils — and  the  Report  of  Ecciefiaftical  Hiflo- 
rians — to  fay  nothing  of  other  Writers,  wl-ofe 
occafional  Teflimony  will  perhaps  be  lefs  excep- 
tionable to  many  Perfons,  as  they  had  no  Defign 
to  ferve  the  Caufe  of  Religion.  Now  thefe  all 
agree  in  their  Account  of  the  general  Pradlice  and 
Government  of  the  Church,  and  the  Evidence 
ariling  from  the  Whole,  appears  to  us  to  be  of  irre- 
fiftible  Force  in  Favour  of  Epifcopacy,  and  in 
the  Opinion  of  Mr.  Chillingworth^  one  of  the  beft 
Reafoners  the  Englifh  Nat'on  ever  produced,  it 
amounts  even  to  a  Jjemonftration.  It  greatly  con- 
cerns thofe  who  can  refill  this  Evidence,  to  be  very 
careful  that  the  fame  Arguments  whereby  they 
endeavour  to  overthrov/  the  Weight  of  it,  do  not 
alfo  operate  with  equal  Force  againft  the  Authen- 
ticity of  the  Canonical  Books  of  the  New  Tefta- 
ment. 

It  is  generally  allowed  by  the  Rejciflers  of  Epif- 
copacy, that  Epifcopal  Government  obtained  very 
early  in  the  Church.  Dr.  Dcddridge  ^'  admits,  that 
''  the  Diilindion  between  Bhliops  and  Prefbyters 
"  has  been  as  ancient  as  the  Time  of  St.  Ignatius  :^^ 
i.  e.  the  Beginning  of  the  Second  Century,  and 
within  Seven  or  Eight  Years  after  the  Death  of  the 
lad  of  the  Apoftles.  Now  if  this  Government  was 
not  of  Apoftolical  Inftitution,  a  general  Ufurpa- 
tion  muft  have  been  attempted — the  Attempt 
muft  have  fucceeded — and  a  capital  Revolution 
mull  have  been  eflablifhed  and  completely  fettled 

through- 

^  *   hi  hii  Leiiureii  &c^  Page  49?, 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  ii 

throughout  the  Church  within  a  very  few  Years  of  Sect. 
the  Apoilles  Death.  Thofe  Powers  which  were  ' 
now  given  to  a  new  Order  of  Officers,  muit  have 
been  quietly  abdicated  by  their  former  PoiTeflbrs, 
and  the  whole  Chriilian  Church  muft  have  been 
perfuadcd  to  give  up  a  Form  of  Government, 
which  had  been  confecrated  by  the  P^ac^ice  and 
Authority  of  the  Apoftles,  and  then  to  fubmit  to 
a  new  Form,  which  they  had  never  experienc  ed 
or  heard  of.  Surely  fo  great  and  (Irangc  a  Work 
could  never  have  been  accompliilied  in  fo  iliort 
a  Time,  without  the  Aflifcance  of  fuDernatural 
Pov/er  •,  and  the  Enemies  of  Epifcopacy  muil  con- 
fefs,  that  a  very  extraordinary  Miracle  muft,  on  this 
Suppofition,  have  been  wrought  in  Favour  of  it. 

If  the  Experiment  fhould  be  made  at  this  Day, 
what  Addrefs  would  it  require,  what  a  tedious 
Procefs  would  be  found  neceffary,  to  profelyte 
even  a  fingle  national  Church,  that  of  Scotland 
for  Inilance,  which  holds  Epifcopacy  to  have  been 
an  Innovation  in  the  Chriflian  Church,  to  a  peace- 
able Submiffion  to  it.''  And  yet  no  modern  Chri- 
ftians  can  pretend  a  greater  Veneration  and  Zeal 
for  apoflolical  Inftitut  ons,  than  the  primitive 
Chriftians  were  undoubtedly  poiTefled  of.  What 
long  Struggles  and  violent  Convulfions  have  al- 
ways been  iuffered,  before  any  Republican  Govern- 
ments have  been  brought  to  acq  lefce  in  a  Change 
to  Monarchy  }  And  yet  Men  have  commonly  been 
found  as  ready  to  give  up  the  edabliihed  Forms 
of  Civil  Government  as  thofe  of  Religion.         ^ 

But  fuppofmg  fuch  a  Change  to  have  happened, 
can  any  tolerable  Reafon  be  affigned,  why  no  Re- 
cords, no  Intimations  of  it  are  to  be  found  in 
Hi-ftory  ,^  Can  it  be  imagined,  that  while  many 
trifling  Occurrences  in  compariibn,  fuch  as  the 
C   2  Death 


12  AN     APPEAL 

Sect.  Death  of  one  Bifhop,  and  the  Succeflion  of  ano- 
•  ther,  and  the  Birth  of  a  third,  in  every  Age  of 
the  Ciiurch  have  been  carefully  related,  that  not 
the  lead  Notice  fhould  have  been  taken,  either  by 
Friends  or  Enemies,  Pagans  or  Chriftians,  of  fuch 
a  capital  Revolution  ?  Or,  are  we  able,  from  this 
univerfal  Silence  of  Hiftory,  to  form  any  other 
Conclufion,  than  that  the  Event  in  Queftion  has 
never  happened  ? 

Let  us  hear  on  this  Subjed  a  very  celebrated 
Writer  *.  "  When  I  fhall  fee  therefore  all  the 
"  Fables  in  the  Met  amor fhofis  adied,  and  prove  true 
*'  Stories  •,  when  I  fhall  fee  all  the  Democracies  and 
''  Ariftocrafies  in  the  World  lie  down  and  deep, 
''  and  awake  into  Monarchies ;  then  will  I  begin 
''  to  believe  that  Prefbyterial  Government,  having 
''  continued  in  the  Church,  during  the  Apoilles 
''  Times,  jfhould  prefently  after  (againfl  the  Apo- 
.  «  files  Doftrine  and  the  Will  of  Chrift)  be  whirled 
*'  about  like  a  Scene  in  a  Mafque,  and  tranf- 
''  formed  into  Epifcopacy.  In  the  mean  Time 
*'  while  thefe  Things  remain  thus  incredible,  and, 
*'  in  human  Reafon,  impolTible,  I  hope  I  iliall 
"  have  Leave  to  conclude  thus : 

"  Epifcopal  Government  is  acknowledged  to 
"  have  been  univerfally  received  in  the  Church, 
"  prefently  after  the  Apoilles  Times  : 

"  Between  the  Apoilles  Times  and  this  prefently 
"  after^  there  was  not  Time  enough  for,  nor  Pof- 
"  fibility  of,  fo  gteat  an  Alteration : 

"  And  therefore  there  was  no  fuch  Alteration 
"  as  is  pretended  ;  and  therefore  Epi-copacy  being 
"  confeiled  to  be  fo  ancient  and  Cathohc,  mull 
"  be  granted  alfo  to  be  Apoilohc." 

SECT. 


*  Mr.  Ckilling'WQrth  in  his  Demonjlration  of  Epifcopacy, 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  13 


SECTION    II. 

The  Powers  peculiar  to  the  Epifcopal  Office  jbewn 
to  he  thofe  of  Government,  Ordination  and  Con- 
fir  mat.  on. 

THE  Epifcopal  Order  appearing  thus  to  be  Sect, 
diftind:  from,  and  fuperior  to  that  of  Pref-  ^^* 
byters,  it  is  proper  now  to  enquire,  wherein  that 
Diftindion  and  Superiority  confifts.  In  Order  to 
this,  we  mufl  carefully  feparate  the  feveral  Things 
that  have  been  added  as  Appendages  to  the  Epif- 
copal Office,  from  thofe  which  originally  and 
eflentially  belong  to  it.  In  Chriftian  Countries, 
the  Alliance  betv/een  the  Church  and  State  has 
obtained  for  the  former  many  Perquifites  and  Ad- 
vantages of  an  external  Nature,  which  may  be 
reduced  to  the  three  Heads  of,  legal  Exemption, 
temporal  Poffefiions,  and  civil  Power.  Thcfe  have 
generally  varied  in  different  Countries  and  Ages ; 
and  although  they  have  influenced  the  external 
Form  and  Appearance  of  the  Church,  yet  they 
have  not  altered  its  real  Nature,  which  is  always 
and  efTentially  the  fame  under  all  outward  Circum- 
llances,  whether  proteded,  negleded  or  perfe- 
cuted,  by  the  Powers  of  the  World. 

Thus  the  Woman,  in  the  Vifions  of  St.  John  *, 
was  the  very  fame,  after  "  fhe  fled  into  the  Wil- 
**  dernefs,"  and  was  purfued  by  the  Dragon,  as 
when  fhe  "  was  clothed  with  the  Sun,  had  a  Crown 
"  of  Twelve  Stars  on  her  Head,  and  the  Moon 
"  under  her  Feet,"  notwithfl:anding  that  her  out- 
ward 


*  Rev.  xii. 


AN     APPEAL 

ward  Circumllances  and  Figure  were  widely  dif- 
ferent. Every  one  knows  that  the  Office  of  a 
Clergyman  is  the  fame,  whether  he  is  pofTelTed  of 
a  P'ortune,  or  is  without  one — whether  he  has  a 
large  Parifli,  or  a  fmail  one.  And  if  thefe  things 
make  no  Alteration  in  the  Office  of  a  Prefbyter, 
it  will  be  hard  to  iliew  why  they  fhould  alter  the 
Epifcopal  Office,  and  why  it  fhould  not  be  exadly 
the  fame  now,  as  it  was  before  the  Days  of  Con- 
ficintine. 

As  worldly  Profperity  or  Adverfity  docs  not 
aifeft  the  Nature  of  the  Office,  fo  neither  does  the 
Location  nor  Limitation  of  it  with  K.egard  to 
P.aCe.  He  who  has  a  fmall  Diocefs,  has  the  fame 
Epifcopal  Powers,  as  he  that  has  a  large  one; 
and  it  matters  not,  as  to  the  Validity  of  the  Kd:^ 
whether  it  is  performed  by  the  Bifhop  of  Man^  or 
the  :rchbi(hop  of  Canterbury —ot.,  in  the  Lan- 
guage of  St.  Jerom^  \vhether  by  the.  BiHiop  of 
Rome  or  Rheghim.,  of  Confiantinople  or  Eugubiumy 
of  Alexandria  or  Tanais. 

Our  prelent  Inquiry  therefore,  leads  us  to  the . 
Confideration  of  thofe  Powers  only,  which,  being 
infeparable  from  the  Office,  and  peculiar  to  it,  all 
BifliopuB,  as  fuch,  are  equally  pofiefTed  of,  and 
without  which  they  w^culd  ceale  to  be  Biffiops : 
and  thefe  will  be  found  to  be  the  Powers  of 
Government^  Ordination  and  ConfrmattGn. 

The  Power  or  Right  of  Gcvernrnent  is  necef- 
farily  included  in  the  Superiority  of  their  Office. 
For  in  every  Society,  where  there  is  a  Subordi- 
nation of  Offices,  that  which  conititutes  the  higheft 
Office  is  the  legal  PoiTeffion  of  the  higheil  Power  •, 
and  the  fuperintending  and  governing  Pov/er, 
being  fuperior  to  all  others,  muft  of  Confequence 

belong 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  15 

belons:  to  the   higheft  Office.     In   the  Chriftian  Ssct- 


't>  "-'  ""^   '*  & 


Church,  the  Apoflles  were  in  veiled  with  this  iower 
by  Chrift — as  it  was  inten-f  ed  for  perpetual  Ijfe, 
they  conveyed  it  to  their  SuccefTors — it  was  exer- 
cifed  by  Timothy  at  Ephefus^  by  Titus  at  Crete^  by 
Dyonifius  the  Arcopagite  at  Athens^  by  Epapkroditus 
zc  Philippic  by  Archippus  at  Colojj'e^  &c. — and, 
through  ail  the  Ages  of  the  Church,  it  has  been 
tranfmitted  down  and  maintained  by  the  Epifccpal 
Order ;  who,  in  the  exercife  of  it,  have  occafionally 
and  frequen  ly  taken  the  Advice  of  their  Prefby- 
ters.  The  Biihop  may  communicate  this  Power^ 
in  fome  Degree,  to  Prefbyters  or  others  as  he  fhall 
think  proper;  but  in  fuch  Cafes,  it  muft  be  exerv 
cifed  in  Subordination  to  him,  for  he  can  never 
diveil  himfelf  of  his  controlling  and  fuperintending 
Authority.  It  is  fo  efTential  to  his  Office,  that  he 
cannot  relinquifh  it  in  fuch  a  Manner,  as  not  to, 
be  accountable  for  the  Exercife  of  it. 

The  Epiilles  to  the  Seven  Churches  of  the  Lydian 
Afia  are  a  Proof  of  this,  and  fhew  plainly,  that  the 
Government  of  thofe  Churches  refpe6tively,  was 
lodged  in  the  Hands  of  fmgle  Perfons,  v/ho  are 
called  Angels  ;  by  which  was  meant  and  intended, 
according  to  the  united  Voice  of  Antiquity, 
BiJhopSy  in  the  appropriated  Senfe.  Some  of  thefe 
are  reproved  for  the  Relaxation  of  Difcipline, 
and  all  of  them  are  treated  as  having  the^  intire 
Government  of  their  relpedive  Diftrids,  and  as 
accountable  for  the  State  of  Religion  within  the 
Bounds  of  their  Spiritual  Jurifdidion.  But  it  is 
needlefs  to  prove  what  the  Enemies  of  Epifcopacy 
will  not  deny,  that  wherever  this  Form  of  Govern- 
ment has  obtained,  the  Government  of  the  Church 
has  always  been  exercifed  by  Bifnops,  and  never 
by  Prefbyters,  unlefs  in  an  inferior  Degree  and 
'in  Subordination  to  them.  Another 


ii. 


AN     APPEAL 

Another  Power  belonging  to  Bifhops,  is  that 
oi  Ordination  ;  which  has  always  been  confidered 
by  the  Friends  of  Epifcopacy  as  peculiar  to  Bifhops, 
and  unalienable  from  their  Office.  And  indeed 
there  would  be  an  Abfurdity  in  fuppofing  the  con- 
trary. For  to  whom  can  the  Appointment  of 
iifferior  and  fubordinate  Officers  belong,  in  every 
Society,  but  to  thofe  who  govern  it  ?  Befides,  the 
fame  Arguments  which  prove  the  Diftindion  of 
BiQiops  from  Prefbyters,  prove  alfo  that  Ordi- 
nation is  an  Office  peculiar  to  the  former  ^  for  it 
is  chiefly  by  the  Appropriation  of  Offices,  that  wc 
are  able  to  prove  the  Diilindlion  of  Orders.  Be- 
caufe  fome  Ecclefiaftical  Offices  are  never  per- 
formed by  the  Clergy  in  common,  but  only  by 
fuch  of  them  as  are  particularly  ordained  for  thofc 
Purpofes,  it  is  evident  that  thofe  who  are  thus  or- 
dained and  impowered,  are  admitted  to  a  different 
and  higher  Order.  Now,  with  Regard  to  the 
Power  of  Ordination,  none  that  have  laboured  in 
the  Caufe  have  ever  been  able  to  fhew  from  Scrip- 
ture 2i  Jingle  Inftance,  wherein  this  Power  has  been 
exerciied  by  Prefbyters  only  ;  but  there  are  many 
Inftances  in  which  thofe,  who  are  manifeflly  fupe- 
rior  to  Prefbyters,  are  found  to  have  ufed  it. 

As  to  the  Cafe  of  Timothy^  whom  St.  Patil  ex- 
horts,  in  his  Jirft  Epiftle  to  him,  to  "  negled  not 
''  the  Gift  which  v/as  given  him  by  Prophecy,  with 
"  the  laying  on  the  Hands  of  the  Prefbytery," 
it  will  not  anfrver  the  Purpo'e.  For  allowing,  at 
prefent,  the  Word  Prefiytery  to  fignify,  what  fomc 
would  choofe  it  fhouid  lignify,  a  Number  of  meer 
Prefiyters  \  }  et  we  are  certain  that  'Timothy  was  not 
ordained  by  fuch  Perfons  only,  Kinlefs  St.  Paul  was 
but  a  meer  Prefbyter.  For  in  his  fecond  Epiillc 
to  him  he  exprefsly  alferts,  that  this  fame  Gift  was 

imparted 


TO    THE     PUBLIC. 


^7 


imparted  to  him  "  by  the  laying  on  of  his  own  Sect. 
"  Hands/'  "^ 

The  Queflion  then  arifes.  How  thefe  two  Ac- 
counts of  Timothy^ s  Ordination  can  be  reconciled  ? 
To  this  Queftion  the  Anfwer  is  obvious.  There 
is  not  a  Prefbyter  of  the  Church  of  England  but 
can,  with  Truth  and  Propriety  fay,  that  he  re- 
ceived his  Ordination  by  the  laying  on  of  the 
Hands  of  the  Bifhop,  and  with  the  laying  on  of 
the  Flands  of  Prefbyters.  For  in  our  Ordinations, 
in  which,  as  in  other  Things,  we  endeavour  to 
come  as  near  as  poflible  to  the  primitive  Standard, 
the  Prefbyters  that  are  prefent,  always  join  with 
the  Bifhop  in  the  Impofition  of  Hands.  But  ob- 
ferve  the  Difference  between  by  and  with :  Timo- 
thy received  his  Gift  by  the  Impofition  of  St.  Paul's 
Hands,  as  being  effedual  to  convey  it ;  but  it  was 
only  with  the  Impofition  of  the  Hands  of  the 
Prefbytery,  which  implies  not  any  Power  in  them, 
but  their  Concurrence  only.  St.  Paul  could  have 
ordained  without  their  Concurrence,  but  the  Im- 
pofition of  their  Hands  would  have  been  altoge- 
ther unavailable  without  the  Apoftle — much  more 
in  Oppofition  to  him.  I  am  afhamed  to  repeat 
Things  which  have  been  fo  frequently  faid  by 
others ;  but  an  Apprehenfion  that  thefe  Papers 
may  fall  into  the  Hands  of  fome,  who  are  Stran- 
gers to  what  has  been  written  on  the  Subjed,  muft 
be  my  Apology. 

As  to  the  other  Cafe  of  Paul  and  Barnabas, 
which  is  objedled  againft  us,  there  is  no  Evidence 
that  this  was  any  Ordination  at  all ;  and  when  it 
can  be  proved  that  it  was,  it  will  be  foon  enough 
to  confider  it. 

I  have  faid,  that  there  is  no  Inllance  in  Holy 
Scripture,  wherein  Ordination  has  been  performed 

D  by 


38  A  N    A  P  P  E  A  L 

Sect,  by  meer  Prefbyters :  I  may  go  on  and  fay,  that 
^^'  there  is  not  an  Inftance  of  it  to  be  found  in  the 
Church  for  feveral  Ages.  Jerius  and  Co  Hut  bus 
in  the  Fourth  Century,  feem  to  have  been  the  firft 
Contrivers  of  Ordinations  of  this  Sort ;  but,  with 
what  Views  they  a6led— in  what  Light  they  were 
confidered  by  the  Catholic  Church — and  how 
badly  they  fucceeded — are  Particulars,  for  which  I 
beg  Leave  to  refer  the  Englifh  Reader  to  Hooker's 
Ecclefiaftical  Polity  *,  and  to  Archbifhop  Potter's 
very  excellent  Bifcourfe  of  Church  Government  -f. 

From  this  Time,  until  after  the  Beginning  of 
the  Reformation  in  the  Sixteenth  Century^  no  In- 
fiances  worthy  of  Notice  occur  to  favour  Ordina- 
tion by  Prefbyters.  So  that  the  uniform  Pradlice 
of  the  Church  for  1 500  Years,  may  be  added  to 
the  Evidence  of  Scripture,  in  Support  of  the  Ne- 
ceflity  of  Epifcopal  Ordination. 

There  is  another  Branch  of  the  Epifcopal  Office, 
which  mufl  not  be  paiTed  over  on  this  Occalion, 
as  we  think  it  a  very  material  one ;  I  mean  the 
Impofition  of  Hands  in  Confirmation.  The  Nature 
and  Deiign  of  Confirmation  may  be  feen  in  our 
public  Office  for  the  Adminiftration  of  it — ^wherein 
the  Perfons  to  be  confirmed  are,  in  a  public  Man- 
ner, prefented  to  the  Biihop,  who  aflcs  them  with 
due  Solemnity,  "  Do  ye  here  in  the  Prefence  of 
*'  God,  and  of  this  Congregation,  renew  the  folemn 
*'  Promife  and  Vow  that  was  made  in  your  Name 
*'  at  your  Baptifm  •,  ratifying  and  confirming  the 
^'  fame  in  your  own  Perfons^  and  acknowledging 
*'  yourfelves  bound  to  beHeve,  and  to  do  all  thole 
*'  Things  which  your  God-fathers  and  God-mo- 
*'  thers  then  undertook  for  you  ?"  to  this  Queftion 

each 

f  Book  vii.  Seft.  9.  f  Chap,  t, 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  19 

each  Perfon  anfwers  in  the  Affirmative,  "  I  do."  Sect. 
Then  follows  the  Impofition  of  the  Biihop's  Hands,    ^^' 
with  Benediction  and  Prayer. 

We  fee  here,  that  Confirmation  confifts  of  two 
Parts ;  one  to  be  performed  by  the  Bilhop,  and 
the  other  by  the  Perfons  prefented  to  him.  The 
Perfons  prefented,  on  their  Parts,  folemnly,  in  the 
Prefence  of  God  and  the  Congregation,  renew  the 
Promifes  made,  not  by  themfelves,  but  by  others 
in  their  Name,  at  their  Baptifm,  and  ratify  and 
confirm  the  fame  in  their  own  Perfons ;  in  Confe-- 
quence  of  which,  the  Bilhop  for  his  Part,  impofes 
his  Hands  upon  them  with  Prayer,  and  blelfes 
them. 

As  to  that  Part  of  the  Tranfadlion  which  be- 
longs to  the  Perfons  confirmed,  none  can  difpute 
the  Propriety  or  Ufefulnefs  of  it.  For  nothing 
can  be  better  adapted  for  the  Promotion  of  Virtue 
and  Piety,  than  that  thofe  who  have  been  baptized 
in  their  Infancy,  as  foon  as  they  are  duly  inftrvi6i:ed 
in  the  Nature  of  the  baptifmal  Covenant,  fhould 
thus  publickly  engage,  in  their  own  Perfons,  to 
perform  the  Conditions  of  it.  And  as  to  the 
Bifhop's  Part,  for  the  fame  Reafons  that  we  expedl 
the  BlefTmg  of  God  to  attend  any  minifterial  Offices 
in  the  Chriftian  Church,  it  may  be  expeded  ia 
this  ;  which  is  founded  on  the  Example  and  Au- 
thority of  Scripture,  as  well  as  on  the  unvaried 
Practice  of  the  primitive  Chriftians. 

The  Church  of  England  declares,  *  that  "  it 
*'  hath  been  a  folemn,  ancient  and  laudable 
*'  Cuftom,  continued  from  the  Apoftlcs  Time, 
'^  that  all  Bifhops  fhould  lay  their  Hands  upon 
"  Children,  baptized  and  inilrudted  in  the  Cate-^ 
D  2  chifn? 


20  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  ««  chifm  of  the  Chriilian  Religion,  praying  over 
^^-  "  them  and  blelTing  them."  If  this  Cuftom  has 
been  continued  from  the  Apoflles  Time,  it  mufl 
have  been  pradifed  in  their  Time  ^  for,  in  the 
Language  of  the  Schools,  the  "Terminus  a  quo  is  the 
Time  of  the  Apoftles.  And  it  can  with  no  Pro- 
priety be  faid  to  have  been  continued  from  their 
Time,  if  it  commenced  after  it.  Let  us  fee  then 
what  Information  the  Scripture  gives  us,  relating 
to  this  Subjed. 

In  the  AEfs  of  the  Jpojlles  *  we  have  the  follow- 
ing PafTage :  '"  When  the  Apoftles  that  were  ap 
*'  Jerufalem  heard  that  Samaria  had  received  the 
*'  Word  of  God,  they  fent  unto  them  Peter  and 
*'  John  •,  who,  when  they  were  come  down,  prayed 
*'  for  them,  that  they  might  receive  the  Holy 
''  Ghoft.  For  as  yet  he  was  fallen  upon  none  of 
''  them  ;  only  they  were  baptized  in  the  Name  of 
*'  the  Lord  Jefus.  Then  laid  they  their  Hands 
*'  on  them,  and  they  received  the  Holy  Ghoft." 
Thefe  Words  exadly  defcribe  Confirmation,  as  it 
is  pradiced  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  there 
is  hardly  Room  for  a  PolTibility  of  applying  them 
to  any  Thing  elfe.  Two  Apoftles  are  fent  to  Sa- 
:  maria,  to  perform  a"  particular  Office — had  it  not 

'  been  neceflary  that  this  Office  ftiould  be  performed 
by  thofe  of  the  higheft  Order  in  the  Church,  others 
undoubtedly  would  have  been  employed  in  that 
Service  •,  it  being  abfurd  to  imagine,  that  Apoftles 
would  have  been  itnt  from  Jerufalem  to  Samaria 
to  do  that'  only,  which  might  as  effedually  have 
been  done  by  common  Elders— the  Office  itfelf 
was  to  impofe  Hands  on  thofe  that  had  received 
Baptifm — and  the  great  End  of  it  was,  that,  by 
^|r^  this 

•  Chap.  yiii.  14, 15,  x6, 17, 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  G.  2x 

this  Impofition  of  Hands,  the  Subjeds  of  it  might  Sect. 
receive  the  Holy  Ghoft. 

We  have  another  Inftance  of  Confirmation  in  the 
Difciples  at  Ephefus^  on  whom,  "  after  they  were 
"  baptized,  St.  Paul  laid  his  Hands,  and  the  Holy 
"  Ghoft  came  upon  them  *.'*  There  can  be  no 
Reafon  to  doubt  but  the  Office  here  performied  to 
the  Converts  at  Ephefus^  was  the  very  famie  that 
.was  performed  to  thofe  in  Samaria-^  fmce  it  was 
adminiftered,  in  the  fame  Manner — by  a  Perfon  of 
the  fame  higheft  Order  in  the  Church — to  thofe 
that  had  the  fame  Qualifications — and  was  atten- 
ded with  the  fame  Effeds. 

Should  it  be  objected,  that  thefe  Inllances  prove 
only  what  was  occafionally  pra6ticed  by  the  Apo- 
ftles,  but  not  that  this  Rite  was  intexided  to  be  of 
ftanding  Ufe  to  the  Church  in  all  Ages,  I  an- 
fwer:  What  was  the  Intention  of  the  Apoftles, 
was  beft  known  by  their  Contemporaries  who  con- 
verfed  with  them  j  and  what  their  Opinion  was  of 
this  Matter,  we  may  fafely  judge  from  their 
Pradice.  That  Confirmation  was  alfo  pradifed  by 
the  immediate  SuccefTors  of  the  Apoftles,  and  has 
been  univerfally  continued  through  all  the  Ages  of 
the  Church,  until  within  tliis  Two  Centuries,  he 
that  has  the  leaft  Acquaintance  with  Ecclefiaftical 
Hiftory  muft  confefs.  Had  there  been  any  Doubts 
or  Difputes,  about  the  Ufefulnefs  or  Propriety  of 
its  Continuance,  in  the  firft  Ages  of  Chriilianity, 
we  might  have  fome  Reaibn  to  difpute  it  now. 
But  fo  far  was  this  from  being  the  Cafe,  that  it 
was  univerfally  received  as  of  facred  Obligation, 
and  ot  great  Importance. 

"  Can  you  be  ignorant  (fays  Sx..  Jerom)  that 
"  this  is  the  common  Cuftom  of  Churches^:^at 

"  Hands       t 

_^__ ^ 

*  A^s  xix. 


11. 


22  ANAPPEAL 

SicT.  «  Hands  are  laid  upon  thofe  who  have  received 
"  Baptifm,  and  in  that  Manner  the  Holy  Ghoft 
*'  is  implored  ?  Do  you  afk,  where  this  is  writ- 
*'  ten  ?  you  will  find  it  in  the  A^s  of  the  Apojiles. 
*'  But  even  if  the  Authority  of  Scripture  had  been 
*'  wanting,  the  Confent  of  the  whole  World  in  this 
"  Matter,  would  have  the  Force  of  a  Com- 
''  mand  *."  JVhcfe  Hands  were  impofed  in  fuch 
Cafes,  we  are  plainly  told,  foon  after.  "  The 
*'  general  Cuflom  is  this,  that  the  Bijhcp  goes 
*'  abroad  to  impofe  Hands  vipon  thofe,  who,  in 
*'  the  fmaller  Cities,  and  at  a  Diftance,  have  been 
*'  baptized  by  Prefbyters  and  Deacons,  that  he  may 
^'  obtain  for  them  by  Prayer  the  Gift  of  the  Holy 
"  Ghoit  f." 

But  that  it  was  the  Intention  of  the  Apollles^ 
that  Confirmation  fhould  not  expire  with  them, 
but  be  continued  for  the  perpetual  Benefit  of  the 
Church,  we  are  not  only  able  to  prove  thus  medi- 
ately, but  it  mufl  neceffarily  follow,  from  what 
one  of  them  has  faid  concerning  it.  The  Author  of 
the  Epillle  to  the  Hebrews  :|:  fpeaks  of  it,  as  one 
of  the  firfl  Principles  of  the  Chriflian  Dodrine, 
and  fundamental  to  it ;  and  puts  it  upon  the  fame 
Footing,  in  that  Refped,  with  Repentance,  Faith, 
!&c.  "  Leaving  the  Principles  of  the  Do6lrine  of 
*'  Chrift,  let  us  go  on  to  Perfedlion ;  not  laying 
*'  again  the  Foundation  of  Repentance  from  dead 

"  Works^ 

'*  An  nifcis  etiam  Ecclefiarum  hunc  efie  Morem,  ut  baptizatis 
pjoftea  Manus  iinponantur,  et  ita  invocetur  Spiritus  Sanftuc. 
Exigis  ubi  fcriptum  fit  ?  In  Aftibus  Apoftolorum.  Etiam  fi  Scrip- 
turje  Au6loritas  non  fubeflet,  totius  Orbis  in  banc  Partem  Con- 
fenfus  Juftar  Praecepti  obtineret.     Ad'verfus  Luciferianos. 

f  Non  quidain  abnuo  banc  Ecclefiarum  efle  Confuetudinem,  ut 
adj^g^ui  longe  in  minoribus  Urbibus  per  Prefbyteros  et  Diaconos 
baptizati  funt,  Epifcopus  ad  Invocationem  fanfti  Spiritus  Manum 
icnpofiturus  excurrat.    Ibid, 
X  Chap,  vi,  I,  a. 


TO    THE     PUBLIC.  23 

^^  Works,  and   of   Faith   towards    God,    of  the  Sect. 
*'  Dodlrine  of  Baptifms,  and  of  the  laying  on  of    ^^* 
*'  Hands^  and  of  the  Refurredion  of  the  Dead,  and 
*'  of  eternal  Judgment."     What  we  are  to  under-^ 
fland  by  the  laying  on  of  Hands ^  fubfequent  to  Bap- 
tifm,  thofe  who  reje6b  the  Dodlrine  of  Confirmation    - 
may  probably  difpute.     But  all  the  ancient  Com- 
mentators agreed  in  Opinion,  in  which  they  have 
had  the  Concurrence  of  the  mofl  confiderable  of 
the  Moderns,  that  what  is  here  meant,  is  the  Im- 
pofition  of  Hands  in  Confirmation  only.     If  there- 
fore, the  Principles  of  Chriftianity  are  the  fame 
now  as  they  were  originally.  Confirmation,  which, 
in  the  above  Pafiage  is  declared  to  be  one  of  them, 
ought  always  to  be  retained  in  the  Church. 

But  it  may  be  farther  objedled,  that  from  the 
Inllances  of  Confirmation  recorded  in  Scripture, 
the  Effe6ls  of  it  appear  to  have  been  miraculous, 
and  confequently,  as  the  Power  of  Miracles  has 
confelTedly  long  ceafed,  that  this  Rite  whereby  it 
was  imparted,  is  now  ufelefs,  and  ought  not  to 
be  continued.  But  the  Solution  of  this  Obje6lion 
is  not  difficult.  There  is  no  Reafon  to  believe,  that 
miraculous  Gifts,  although  frequently,  were  always 
imparted  by  the  Impofition  of  the  Apoftles  Hands. 
But  could  this  be  proved,  yet  other  Gifts  of  a  dif- 
ferent Nature  v/ere  alfo  communicated  at  the  fame 
Time  ;  and  this  Communication  is  neceflary  to  all 
Perfons  in  all  Ages.  Without  the  gracious  Af- 
fiftances  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  it  is  as  certain  now  as 
it  ever  was,  that  no  Man  is  able  to  withfland 
Temptations,  and  to  fulfil  the  Conditions  of  the 
Gofpel  Covenant. 

Thofe  upon  whom  the  Apoftles  laid  Hands,  are 
faid  to  have  received  the  Holy  Ghoit :  but,  I  trufl|pt 
there  is  nothing  fo  extraordinary  in  this,  but  that 

Chriftia.^5 


2^4 


AN    APPEAL 


^ti:r,  Chrifiians  in  all  Ages,  who  have  a  proper  Diipo* 
^^*  fition,  and  make  Ufe  of  the  Handing  Means  ap- 
pointed in  the  Church,  may  hope  to  obtain  even 
this  unfpeakable  Benefit.  And  if  fome,  in  Con- 
fequence  of  this  Impofition  of  the  Apoftles  Hands, 
are  faid  to  have  fpoken  with  Tongues,  and  prophe- 
fied,  which  was  not  fo  much  for  their  own  perfonal 
Advantage,  as  for  the  Convidlion  of  others  ;  it  is 
fufficient  for  Chriftians  at  this  Day,  that,  without 
thefe  miraculous  Endowments,  after  "  the  For- 
*'  givenefs  of  their  Sins,"  they  are  "  lengthened 
*'  with  the  Holy  Ghoft  the  Comforter,"  and  that 
*'  the  manifold  Gifts  of  Grace  are  daily  increafed 
"  in  them — that  they  receive  the  Spirit  of  Wifdom 
"  and  Underilanding — the  Spirit  of  Counfel  and 
*'  ghoilly  Strength — and  are  filled  with  the  Spirit 
*'  of  the  Fear  of  God  •,"  for  all  which  Things  the 
Bifhop  and  Congregation  are  direded  to  pray,  in 
the  Ofhce  of  Confirmation. 

Thus  we  fee  upon  what  Authority  this  Pfadicc 
13  founded,  and  the  Advantages  that  attend  it; 
and  if  Perfons  in  this  Age  are  difaffeded,  or  in- 
different towards  it,  it  is  either  becaufe  they  do 
not  underfland  the  Nature  of  it,  or  have  not  that 
Zeal  and  Anxiety  for  their  fpiritual  Interefts, 
which  Men  had  formerly  *.  It 

*  •*  The  holy  Rite  of  Confirmation  is  a  divine  Ordinance,  and 
**  it  produces  divine  Effefts,  and  is  miniftered  by  divine  Perfons, 
**  that  is,  by  thofe  whom  God  hath  fan6lified  and  feparated  to  this 
**  Miniftration.  At  firft,  all  that  were  baptized,  were  alfo  confir- 
**  med  }  and  ever  fince,  all  good  People  that  have  underftood  it, 
"  have  been  very  zealous  for  it ;  and  Time  was  in  E?jglandy  even 
*'  iince  the  Beginnings  of  the  Reformation,  when  Confirmation 
**  had  been  lefs  carefully  miniftered  for  about  Six  Years,  when 
♦*  the  People  had  their  firft  Opportunities  of  it  reftored,  they  ran 
**  to  it  in  fo  great  Numbers,  that  Churches  and  Church-Yards 
*'  would  not  hold  them;  infomuch,  that  I  have  read,  that  the 
•*  Biftiop  of  Chefler  was  forced  to  impofe  Hands  on  People  in  the 
•*  Fields,  and  was  fo  opprefled  with  Multitudes,  that  he  had  almoft 
*'  been  trod  to  Death  by  the  People,  and  had  died  with  the  Throng, 
"  if  he  had  not  be«n  refcued  by  the  Civil  Power,"    BiJJ^op  faf^lir. 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  25 

It  remains  only  to  be  obferved  under  this  Head,  Sect. 
that  Confirmation  can  be  adminiftered  by  none  but  ^^' 
Bifhops.  In  the  Time  of  the  Apoftles,  this  Power 
was  exercifed  by  them — they  conveyed  it  to  thofe 
only  who  were  ap  ointed  to  fucceed  t'^em — and  it 
has  always  been  confined  to  the  higheil  Order  in 
the  Church. 


SECT 


26'  ANAPPEAL 


SECTION    III. 

That  the  Church  in  America^  without  an  Epifcopate.j 
is  neceffarily  deftitute  of  a  regular  Governments 
and  cannot  enjoy  the  Benefits  of  Ordination  and 
Confirmation. 

Sect.  T  N  the  preceeding  Se6tions  I  have  endeavoured' 
III.  Jl^  to  give  a  Summary  of  the  Arguments  in 
Favour  of  Epifcopacy,  and  to  prove,  v/ith  all" 
poffible  Brevity,  that  the  Powers  of  ordaining, 
confirming  and  governing  the  Church,  belong 
rightfully  to  Bifhops,  and  are  not  to  be  exercifed 
by  any  of  an  inferior  Order. 

If  the  Coniiderations  which  have  been  offered 
have  no  Weight  with  others,  they  are,  howevery 
convincing  to  us  of  the  Church  of  England  ;  and 
we  firmly  believe  the  Truth  and  Importance  of 
the  feveral  Points,  the  Proof  of  which  has  been 
thus  briefly  attempted.  Indeed  the  Convidion  of 
DilTenters,  v/ith  Regard  to  the  Divine  Inftitution 
and  Authority  of  Epifcopacy,  is  not  the  imme- 
diate Intention  of  this  Publication:  and  yet  it 
is  no  Mark  of  a,n  unfriendly  Difpofition,  to  hope, 
that  thofe  who  are  unable  to  invalidate  the  Force 
of  the  preceeding  Arguments,  will  candidly  fub- 
mit  to  them,  unlefs  they  are  able  to  oppofe  to 
them  others  which  they  judge  to  be,  at  leait,  of 
equal  Strength.  For  it  is  the  Duty  of  every 
rational  Inquirer,  in  all  Cafes,  and  more  efpecially 
in  Matters  of  Religion,  to  be  governed  by  what 
appears  to  be  the  ftrongeil  Evidence.  But  the 
prefent  Defign  is  to  fet  before  the  Public,  the 

Neceflity 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  27 

>Teceffity   and  Importance  of  Epifcopacy,  in  the  Sect. 
Opinion  of  Epifccpalians,  and  to  fhew  the  wretched  ^^^• 
'  Condition  of  the  Church  of  England  in  America 
for  ¥/ant  of  Biihops. 

And  this  appears,  in  Part,  from  what  has  been 
already  offered.  For  if,  according  to  the  Dodrine 
and  Behef  of  the  Church  of  England,  none  have 
a  Right  to  govern  the  Church  *  but  Biihops,  nor 
to  ordam,  nor  to  confirm;  then  the  American 
Church,  while  without  Bifliops,  mufl  be  without 
Government,  without  Ordination  and  Confir- 
mation. ■ 

Was  there  no  other  Difadvantage  attendins  our 
Want  of  Biihops,  than  that  it  neceflarily  prevents 
o^r  having  Confirmation  adminiflered,  we  Ihould 
efteem  it  a  great  Grievance.  For  in  Proportion 
to  our  Opinion  of  the  Ufefulnefs  of  this  facred 
Inibtution,  muft  be  the  Hardfhip  of  being  ex- 
cluded from  the  Enjoyment  of  it-efpecially, 
when  It  IS  confidered  that  our  Enjoyment  of  ic 
would  not  mterfere  with  either  the  civil  or  reli- 
gious Rights  or  Privileges  of  any.  I  will  not 
however,  enlarge  on  this  Subjeft,  but  proceed 
immediately  to  Matters  of  greater  Confequence  ; 
and  fuch  are  the  Church's  Want  of  Government 
and  ordaining  Powers. 

When  it  is  faid,  that  the  Church  of  England  in 
America,  without  Biihops,  muft  be  without  Go- 
vernment, this  is  to  be  underftood  in  a  qualified 
Senfe.  For  where  there  is  abfolutely  no  Govern- 
ment at  all,  there  can  be  nothing  but  Diforder  and 

Confufion, 

*  The  Reader  will  obferve,  that  only  fiich  Authority  \^  hp|.»  "* 
rfte  ct'h'^  P«ely  Ecclenaftical,  a/d  p.cnxtr.^tl  Offic    I 
X Uvli    ;,  ^^  ■■  .T"^'  King's  Supremacy,  as  expreffed  in  Article 


28  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  Confudon,  without  any  Appearance  of  Regu* 
^^^'  larity  •,  which,  I  trufl,  is  not  yet  the  Cafe  of  the 
Church  in  America.  Some  Degree  of  Govern- 
ment is  elTential  to  the  very  Being  of  every  So- 
ciety, whether  civil  or  religious  •,  and  as  foon  as 
Government  intirely  ccafes,  the  Society  is  difTol- 
ved  and  has  no  Exiitence. 

It  has  been  allowed  that  Prefbyters  may  have  a 
fubordinate  Authority  to  govern;  and  it  is  well 
known,  that  the  Biftjop  of  London  hath  formerly 
taken  fome  Cognizance  of  Ecclefiaftical  Matters 
in  the  Plantations,  by  Virtue  of  the  King's  Com- 
iTiifiion.  But  much  more  than  this  is  needful,  to 
anfwer  the  Neceflitics  of  the  American  Church. 
The  Clergy  can  evidently  do  but  little  *  without 
a  Billiop ;  and  when  it  is  difputed,  whether  one 
Bifnop  rending  in  America  vfould  be  fuflicient  for 
the  Colonies,  it  is  agreed,  on  all  Sides,  that  pro- 
per Care  cannot  be  taken  of  them  by  a  Bifhop, 

who 

*  The  mofi  that  the  Clergy  can  do  to  relieve  the  Church,  in 
the  prefent  State  of  Things,  Teems  to  be  in  the  \^'ay  oi ^-v'Auntory 
Coii'-vfi.'tions,  which  has  been  regularly  pra(5lired,  for  a  Number  of 
Years,  in  (ome  of  the  Northern  Colonies.  A  general  C'^nctrn  for 
the  Interelt  of  Religion  and  the  Church,  and  a  Defire  in  the 
Clergy  of  contributing  their  united  Endeavours  to  promote  it, 
occalioned  th?  fiill:  i^ife  of  thefe  Conventions  ;  and  the  Advan- 
tages which  have  been  found,  on  the  Whole,  to  attend  them^ 
have  cauled  their  Continuance. 

Indeed  fuch  Conventions  of  theClergy,  u-herein  all  the  Mem- 
bers meet  together  on  Terjus  of  Equafiry,  are  unknown  to  the 
Conftitution  of  the  Church  of  England.  But  it  muft  be  alfc* 
graiited,  that  for  fuch  a  Nmr.ber  of  Prefbyters,  to  be  left  without 
a  Bifnop  at  their  Head  to  fnperintend  'and  govern  them,  is  a 
Thing  equally  unknown  to  the  Conftitution  of  any  Epifcopal 
Church  upon  Earth.  That,  of  tlie  Church  of  England  in  her 
Colonies,  is  an  extraordinary  Cafe  :  and  in  extraordinary  Cafes 
uncommon  Meafures  maybe  allowable.  If  fome  Inconveniences 
may  be  expefted  from  thefe  Conventions,  which  hitherto  have 
been  but  fmall  and  inconfiderable  j  Inconveniences  alio  will  arife, 
irow.  every  other  Method  that  can  be  taken  by  the  Clergy  to  ferve 
the  general  Intereft  of  religion,  while  without  an  EpKcopate— 
5nd  undoubtedly  thegieateft  Inconveniences  of  ail,  from  their 

neglect  iug 


TO     THE     PUBLIC,  29 

who  has  the  immediate  Infpe6i:ion  of  a  large  Dio-  Sect. 
cefs  in  England,  and  refides  at  the  Diftance  of  ^^^* 
Three  Thoufand  Miles.  Trial  has  been  heretofore 
made  what  could  be  done  by  CommifTaries  ;  but 
their  Ufefulnefs,  upon  the  Whole,  appeared  to  be 
fo  inconfiderable,  that  none  have  been  appointed 
for  near  Twenty  Years. 

So  that  the  State  of  the  Church  in  America  is, 
at  prelent,  really  this  :  The  Clergy  are  indepen- 
dent of  each  other,  and  have  no  Ecclefiaftical 
Superiors  to  unite  or  control  them  •,  and  the  Peo- 
ple are  fenfible  of  their  Want  of  Power,  and  find, 
them/elves  free  from  all  Reftraints  of  Ecciefiaitical 
Authority.  They  both  confider  themfelves  as  ac- 
countable to  God  for  their  religious  Behaviour, 
and,  in  fome  Senfe,  to  the  W^orld  for  the  Con- 
fiiiency  of  their  Charaders.  They  have  the 
Rubrics  of  the  Church  of  England,  whereby  they 
profefs  to  govern  themfelves,  and  to  which,  for 
the  moil  Part,  they  ftridtly  adhere,  in  the  public 
Offices  of  Religion;  and  they  endeavour  to  conform 
to  the  Canons^  fo  far  as  the  Circumflances  of  the 
Church  in  th  s  Country  will  admiit  of.  But  after 
all.  Men's  governing  themfelves  by  certain  Rules 
and  Laws,  (if  the  Expreflion  may  be  ailov/ed  of) 
and  their  being  governed  by  others,  who  have  a 
proper  Authority,  although  according  to  the  fame 
Laws,  are  Things  that  will  ever  be  found  to  be 
different.  In  the  former  Cafe,  fome  Appearance 
of  Order  may  be   maintained,    but  the   Body  is 

v/ithout 

neglecting  to  exert  themfelves  jointly  in  the  Profecution  of  their 
general  Duty.  Jf  thofe  who  think  unfavourably  of  our  Conven- 
tions, would  be  fo  obliging  as  to  tell  us,  bonv,  in  this  diftrefied 
State, of  the  Church,  we  can  {er\'t  it,  and  thereby  the  commoa 
Caufe  of  Religion  more  efteftually,  we  fhould  take  it  kindly. 
This  is  the  great  End  we  aim  at ;  and  we  are  attached  to  parti- 
cular Means,  only  iji  Proportion  as  wc  judge  them  to  be  coa- 
«lttcive  thereto. 


30  AN     APPEAL 

Sect,  without  Strength,  and  liable  to  be  deilroyed  by 
^^^'    innumerable  Accidents;  whereas  it  is  only  in  the 
latter  Cafe,  that  Health  and  Vigour  and  Perma- 
nency can  be  reafonably  expe6i:ed. 

The  Government  of  the  Church  may  be  na- 
turally divided  into  Two  Branches,  and  confidered 
as  relating  either  to  the  Clergy,  or  the  Laity  •, 
and  it  may  be  proper  to  take  a  fliort  View  of  it, 
with  Reference  to  both.  Religion  being  a  Matter 
of  free  Choice,  for  which  we  are  ordmarily  ac- 
countable only  to  him,  who  v/ill  hereafter  judge 
\is  for  our  moral  Behaviour — and  the  Church, 
confidered  with  Relation  to  civil  Power,  being 
in  the  very  Nature  of  it  a  voluntary  Society  -,  it 
is  left  to  Men's  Confciences,  whether  they  v/iU  be- 
come Members  of  it  or  not.  But  after  they  are 
become  Members,  the  Laws  of  the  Church  arc 
in  Force  againil  them,  and  they  are  fubjedl,  in 
Ecclefiaflical  Matters,  to  the  Authority  of  thofe 
who  govern  it. 

What  the  jufl  Penalties  of  Difobedience  are, 
yiTQ  muft  learn  from  the  Nature  of  thxC  Church  it- 
felf.  In  Civil  Society,  the  Magiflrate  is  armed 
with  the  Sword  of  Juftice,  and  "^  he  is  the  Mini- 
*'  flier  of  God,  a  Revenger  to  execute  Wrath  upon 
*'  him  that  doeth  Evil  *,'*  according  to  the  De- 
gree and  Nature  of  his  Offences.  But  the  Power 
of  the  Church  is  of  a  fpiritual  Nature,  and  the 
utmoil  Efred  of  it  in  this  World,  is  the  cutting 
•off  and  rejecting  thofe  Memibers  which  are  in- 
curably and  dangeroufly  corrupted.  This  Punifh- 
mcnt  which  has  commonly  been  known  by  the 
Name  of  Excommunkaticn,  however  it  was  dreaded 
in  the  Durefb  Ages  of  Chriflianity,  has  loft  much 

of 

•  Xonj,  xlii.  A., 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  31 

^f  its  Force  in  this-,  whercin  Altars  are  ict  up  Sect, 
againfl  Altars,  and  Churches  againfl:  Churches, 
and  thofe  who  are  rejeded  by  one,  may  be 
received  by  another.  A  Difpofition  to  (light  the 
highell  Punifhment  which  the  Church  can  inflicfk 
has  become  general,  and  there  appears  to  be  no 
Remedy  for  it,  unlefs  in  the  Ufe  of  Reafon  and 
Perfuafion.  But  we  live  in  an  Age,  in  which  the 
Voice  of  Reafon  will  not  be  heard,  nor  the 
Strength  of  Argum.ents  regarded,  although  fup- 
ported  by  the  Declarations  of  Heaven,  on  the 
Subjed  of  Church  Difcipline.  Nay,  a  Man  would 
be  generally  efceemed  to  be  either  wronsr-headedj 
or  mean-fpirited,  or  both,  who  fhould  profefs 
much  Reverence  for  Ecclefiaftical  Authority  ;  and 
the  Charge  of  Prieft-Ci'aft^  fo  long  hackneyed  by 
Infidels  and  Libertines,  would  be  fure  to  fail  upon 
the  Clergy,  fhould  they  have  Courage  to  fpeak  up 
in  Defence  of  it. 

In  this  State  of  Things,  the  Reftoration  of  the' 
primitive  Difcipline  feems  to  be  a  Matter  rather  to 
be  wifhed  for  and  defired,  than  to  be  rationally 
attempted  by  thofe  in  Authority.  Accordingly 
no  Attempts  of  this  Nature  will  be  made  under 
an  American  Epifcopate  -,  the  Difcipline  of  the' 
Church,  fo  far  as  it  relates  to  the  private  Mem- 
bers, will  be  left  as  it  is,  and  nothing  farther  will 
be  done  than  refufmg  the  Communion  to  difor- 
derly  and  fcandalous  Perfons,  which  every  Clergy- 
man may  now  refufe,  and  ought  to  refufe,  agree- 
ably to  the  Rubrics, 

But  with  Regard  to  the  Clergy,  it  is  propofed 
that  a  ftrid  Difcipline  be  eilablifhed,  and  that  the 
Bilhop's  Power  over  them  fhall  be  as  full  and 
complete,  as  the  Laws  and  Canons  of  the  Church 
dired.     Of  the   Neceflitj  of  this,  none   can   be 

more 


32  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  more  fenfible  than  the  Clergy  themfelves,  who,  in 
*  all  their  AddrelTes  in  Favour  of  an  Epifcopate, 
have  propofed  and  reqiielled  that  this  may  be  the 
Cafe.  The  general  Character  of  the  American 
Clergy,  the  Author  believes,  if  he  may  judge  from 
a  large  and  extenfive  Acquaintance  v/ith  them, 
and  he  hopes  it  may  be  thought  excufable  in  him, 
on  this  Occafion,  although  one  of  the  Number, 
to  declare  his  Belief  of  it,  to  be  truly  refpectable. 
They  are  found  and  fleady  in  their  Principles,  and 
regular  in  their  Behaviour.  In  lb  large  a  Body, 
fome  Exceptions  from  .the  general  Chara6ler  muft 
be  expelled  ;  but  it  is  rather  to  be  wondered  that 
their  Number  is  fo  fmall,  confidering  all  Things. 

Tndeed  v/e  have  heard  much  of  the  profligate 
Behaviour  of  the  Clergy  to  the  Southward,  and 
in  the  lilands  ;  but  this,  perhaps,  mav  have  been 
owing  to  the  Conduct  of  a  few  Individuals,  re- 
.  ported  and  aggravated  with  a  malicious  Intention. 
But  allowing  many  of  thefe  evil  Reports  to  have 
been  juftly  founded,  yet  we  all  know  that  the  im- 
moral Pradices  of  one  vicious  Clergyman  will  be 
more  frequently  mentioned,  than  the  Virtues  of 
Fifty,  of  an  orderly  Life  and  Converfation. 

But  after  all,  whatever  may  be  the  Proportion 
between  the  virtuous  and  vicious  Clergymen  in 
America,  as  there  are  undoubtedly  fome  of  both 
Charaders  ;  the  Want  of  Bifhops  to  fuperintend 
and  govern  them,  is  obvious  at  lirfl  View.  If  one 
Sort  have  no  Need  of  a  Bilhop  to  keep  them  to 
their  Duty,  yet  fomie  Cafes  will  arife  in  the  Dif- 
charge  of  it  in  which  his  Diredtion  will  be  ufeful 
— and  many  Cafes,  wherein  his  Support  and  En- 
couragement will  be  needful — and  in  all  Cafes, 
his  Friendlhip  and  Patronage  will  give  Life  and 

Spirit, 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  i  C.  s^ 

Spifit  to  them  in  undergoing  the  Difticulties,  and  -ect. 
in  performing  the  Duties,  of  their  Station. 

But  as  there  are  Clergymen  alfo  of  a  difFc^rent 
Chara6i:er,  it  is  more  immediately  neceflary  en 
Account  of  thefe,  that  Epifcopal  Government 
fhould  take  Place  in  America.  The  Procefs  of 
carrying  an  Accufarion,  and  afterwards  offuppor- 
tiiig  it,  before  our  Super  ors,  at  fo  great  a  Diilance, 
muil  be  tedious  and  difficult ;  and  this  Confide- 
ration  undoubtedly,  in  fome  Cafes,  may  caufe 
thole  to  efcape  Punifhment  who  really  deferve  it. 
But  the  Cafe  will  b':^  different  under  a  fettled  Epif- 
copate ;  as  then,  for  every  Grievance  of  this 
Nature,  the  Church  will  have  an  eafy  and  effec- 
tual Rem.edy.  if  a  Clergyman  (hall  difgrace  his 
Profeffion  in  an  open  and  fcandalous  Manner,  a 
Biihop  refiding  in  the  Country  can  fufpend  him 
immediately  ;  and  if  upon  Trial  the  Cafe  Ihall  be 
found  to  deferve  it;,  he  can  proceed  to  deprive  him 
of  his  Benefice  *,  and  not  only  filence  and  depofe 
him,  but  excommunicate  him  from  the  Society  of 
Chriftians.  The  Confideration  of  this,  and  that 
they  are  under  the  Eye  of  their  Bifhop,  one  main 
Branch  of  whofe  Bufinefs  is  to  infped  and  enquire 

into 

*  It  is  faid  that  in  Maryland^  a  Clergyman  once  poflefled  of  a 
Liring,  can  hold  it  for  Life,  however  loofe  and  profligate  he  may 
prore  in  his  Behaviour.  If  this  is  really  the  Cafe,  it  muft  be 
owing  to  fbme  great  Defeat  in  the  Conftitution  of  that  Province, 
which  ought  to  be  remedied.  In  the  mean  while,  it  is  fuch  a 
Hardlhip  upon  the  Church,  as,  I  believe,  is  fuffcrcd  in  no  other 
Part  of  the  World.  And  what  makes  it  the  more  intolerable,  is, 
that  the  fole  Right  of  difpofing  of  every  Benefice  in  the  Province, 
is  claimed  by  the  Proprietor,  and  exercifed  by  his  Governor.  It 
as  fome  Alleviation  however,  that  the  prefcnt  very  worthy  Gover- 
nor makes  it  a  general  Rule,  (if  the  Author  hath  been  rightly  in- 
formed) to  which  he  adheres,  as  far  as  he  can,  confidently  with 
his  Obligations  to  the  Propri«tor,  to  grant  Induftion  to  wo 
Clergyman,  without  the  ApprobatioR  of  the  Ycftry  and  principal 
ParJlliioncrs, 

F 


34-  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  Jnto  their  Condud,  v/ill  naturally  tend  to  make 
•  the  Clergy  in  general,  more  regular  and  diligent 
in  the  Difcharge  of  the  Duties  of  their  Office,  and 
more  careful  and  circumfptdl  in  their  whole  Beha- 
viour. In  a  Word,  of  thofe  whofe  Charaders  anc 
juftly  exceptionable,  fome  may  probably  be  re- 
formed by  a  Bifhop  -,  and  as  to  others,  they  may 
be  eafily  difplaced,  unlefs  it  be  the  Fault  of  the 
People;  themfelves. 

But  a  greater  Difadvantage,  if  polTible,  than  the 
Want  of  a  regular  Government,  attends  the  Church 
of  England  in  America  in  its  prefent  State,  I  mean 
the  Want  of  Ordination  :  for  none  can  be  ad- 
mitted to  Holy  Orders  v/ithout  croffing  the  Atlan- 
tic, v/ith  great  Hazard  and  Expence.  The  Dan- 
ger of  fuch  a  Voyage  may,  to  fome,  appear  to  be 
trifling  ,  but  the  Apprehenfion  of  it,  together  with 
a  natural  Averfion  to  the  Sea,  has  been  known  to 
deter  many  worthy  Perfons,  who  have  been  de- 
firous  of  obtaining  Ordination  in  the  Church, 
from  attempting  it— the  Fear  and  Apprehenfion 
of  Danger,  in  fuch  Cafes,  whether  rightly  founded 
or  not,  having  always  the  fame  Effedt.  But  what 
real  Foundation  there  is  for  fuch  an  Apprehenfion, 
will  be  beft  dlfcovtred  from  Experience  and  Fa6ls. 
Now  the  exad  Number  of  thofe  that  have  gone 
Home  for  Ordination,  from  thefe  Northern  Co- 
lonies (excepting  fome  who  have  failed  lately, 
who  cannot  properly  be  included  in  this  Account) 
is  Fifty- two.  Of  thefc  Forty-two  have  returned 
fafely,  and  Ten  have  mifcarried ;  the  Voyage,  or 
Sicknefs  occafioned  by  it,  having  proved  fatal  to 
near  a  fifth  Part  of  them. 

The  Expence  of  this  Voyage  cannot  be  reckoned 
at  lefs,  upon  an   Average,    than   One   Hundred 
Pounds  Sterling  to  each  Perfon.     To  Men  of  For- 
tune 


T  O    T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  3- 

tune  this  is  an  inconfiderable  Sum;  but  Men  of  Sect. 
l-ortune  muft  not  be  expefted  to  devote  them-  '"• 
ierves  to  the  Service  of  the  Church  in  America, 
where  the  Profpedt  is  fo  difcouraging,  and  fo  man^ 
difagreeable  Circumftances  are  known  to  attend 
It.  The  Expence  muft  therefore  generally  fall 
iipon  fuch,  as  having  already  expended  the  greateft 
Part  of  their  Pittance  in  their  Education,  will  find 

PuipoT^^  '°  '''^"  '  ^""^  ^"^^'^'^^  f°r  '^^ 

Under  thefe  Difcouragements,  there  has  al 
ways  beefl  great  Difficulty  Tn  fupplying  the  Ckirch 
with  Clergymen,  and  there  always  muft  be  In 
what  Manner  the  Church  is  fuppLd  at  preLt  • 
he  following  Inftances  will  fuffi'Sently  teffify!  I^ 
Ch'r^r'^^H  r  ^''■'-y^'fey  there  are  TwenLone 
Churches  and  Congregations;  Eleven  of  thefe  are 
mnrely  deftitute  of  a  Minifter,  and  there  are  but 
Five  C  ergymen  to  do  the  Duties  of  the  other 
Ten.     lnFe„„fyhama,  mduding  the  LZrCo^n 

Stte'at^hSh     'I  ^'^'^"^  «^"^^2S: 
^wa  mere  are  Three  Churches  and  Conffreo-ationc 

and  but  Two  Clergymen  ;  in  the  Reft  of  the  Pro' 

vmce  the  Nurnber  of  Churches  is  Twenty  fix  aS 

that  of  the  Clergy  is  but  Seven,  ^      '       - 

'•  If  fpme  of  the  Colonies   are  better  fupnlied 

perhaps  others  may  be  found  which  are  pSed  ■ 
tor  not  fo  well.  In  North-Carolina,  the  ffe  Go 
vernorl).^^.  informed  the  Society,  in  his  Ltter 
t"ti^^''^'^'^'  ^76^>  "  that  there  were  S 
"  Aere  wS:*"?"'"  i"  .that  Province,  although 
there  were  Twenty-nine  Parifhes,  and  ea?h 
^Parilh  contained  a  whole  County  :"  And  the 
Majority  of  the  Inhabitants  are  flid  to  pJofefs 

them- 

February  1767. 


36  ANAPPEAL 

StcT.  themHves  Members  of  the  Church.  Other  Rea~ 
fons  may  have  contributed  to  this  general  Want 
of  Clergymen  in  America,  but  it  has  always  been 
principally  owing  to  the  great  Difficulty  of  ob- 
taining: Ordination. 

Under  this  Head  it  may  be  obferved  farther, 
that  the  Danger  and  Expence  of  a  Voyage  to  Eng- 
land for  the  rurpofs  of  obtaining  Ordination,  are 
not  the  only  Evils  we  have  Reafon  to  complain  of: 
for  another  glaring  Difadvantage,  to  which  the 
Chu  ch  in  America  is  manifeftly  fubjed,  arifes 
from  the  impoflibility  that  a  Bifhop  refiding  in 
England,  fhould  be  fufficiently  acquainted  with 
the  Chara6lers  of  thofe  who  go  Home  from  this 
Country  for  Holy  Orders.  To  this  it  is  owi  ;g, 
that  Ordination  has  been  fqmetimes  fraudulently 
and  furreptitioufly  obtained  by  fuch  Wretches,  as 
are  not  only  a  Scandal  to  the  Church,  but  a  Dif- 
grace  to  the  human  Species. 

The  Church  has  taken  all  due  Care  that  none 
lliali  be  ordained,  without  full  and  proper  Evi- 
dence of  dieir  good  CharaBer  and  Abilities  *  •,  and 
?.s  to  thofe  who  go  Home  from  this  diftant  Country 
fcr  that  Purpofe,  fcnfible  of  the  peculiar  Hazard 
at.ending  fuch  Caies^  the  Bijhop  of  London^  in 
Conjunction  with  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gofpel  in  foreign  Parts^  every  Year  proclaims 
and  publifhes  to  the  World,  that  he  "  requefts  and 
*'  earnefily  befeeches  all  Perfons  concerned,  that 
*^  they  recommend  no  Man  out  of  P  avour  or  Af- 
*'  feclion,  or  any  other  worldly  Confideration,  but 
f'  w^ith  a  fincere  Regard  to  the  Honour  of  Al- 
*'  mighty  God,  and  our  BlefTed  Saviour  ;  as  they 
^'  tender  the  Intereft  of  the  Chriftian  Religion, 
"  and  the  Good  of  Men's  Souls."  But 

*  S«e  Canon  xxxiv„ 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  37 

But  although  the  Bifhops  of  London,  to  whom  Sect. 
this  Application  from  America  has  always  been 
made,    have   fucceflively   exercifed    the    greateft 
Care  and  Circumfpedion  in  this  Matter,  yet  none 
of  them  have  teen  able  in ti rely  to  avoid  Impofi- 
tions  of  this  Nature.     Notwithftanding  their  ut-         | 
moft  Caution  and   Care  to  prevent  it,  Inftances 
have  happened,  wherein   Perfons  have  produced 
in  England  the  moft  ample  written  Credentials, 
obtained  God  knows  how,  of  their  pious  and  or- 
derly Converfation,  whofe  Lives  have  been  noto- 
riouily  infamous  in  this  Country;  and  after  having 
been  invefted  with  the  facred  Office,  they  have 
l^een  fent  back  to  take  Charge  of  the  Souls  of 
others — in  the  Profecution  of  which  Work  they 
have  adted  as  if  they  had  not,  or  imagined  that 
they  had  not,  any  Souls  of  their  own. 

And  this  is  not  much  to  be  wondered  at,  fmce 
in  fuch  a  Country  as  America,  an  artful  Man  may 
fometimes  be  able  to  procure  Teftimonials  in  his 
Favour,  figned  by  a  competent  Number  of  fuch 
Clergymen  and  others,  as  a  Biftiop  of  London  will 
not  know  how  to  objedl  againft.  Or,  fhould  this 
Attempt  fail  him,  he  may  even  forge  his  Tefti- 
monials, and  fo  carry  his  Point  before  he  is  de- 
tedled.  This  Suppofition  is  not  an  abfurd  one — 
it  is  necelTary  in  Order  to  account  for  the  Succefs 
of  fome  Adventurers  from  the  Colonics,  who  have 
obtained  Ordination  in  England,  and  then  have 
returned  to  America  to  difgrace  themfelves  and 
the  Church — to  the  great  Grief  and  Vexation  of  ail 
its  Friends,  and,  I  doubt  not,  to  the  no  fmall 
Confolation  of  fome  of  its  Enemies. 

And  when  we  confider  the  miferablc  Confe- 
quences  that  muft  neceflarily  follow,  even  from  a 
fmgle  Inftance  of  this  Kind,  and  that  one  worth- 

lefs 


38  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  Ufs  Clergyman  will  do  more  Mifchief  to  Religion, 
•  than  many  w&rthy  ones  are  able  to  repair  •,  it  is 
evic^nt  that  the  Church  may  be,  as  Experience 
proves  that  it  fometimes  adlually  has  been,  a  great 
Sufferer  in  this  Refped.  And  there  fecms  to  be 
no  Method  of  preventing  this  Evil  intirely,  but  by 
the  Refidence  of  Bifhops  in  America-,  in  which 
Cafe  the  general  Charader  of  each  Candidate  for 
holy  Orders  might  be  known  by  the  Bifhop,  and 
fuch  Impofitions  as  have  been  rpentioned,  woui4 
feidom  be  attempte4» 


SECT, 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  39 

.5 

S  E  C  T  I  O  N     IV. 

i^ke  unparalleled  Hardjhip  of  this  Cafe  reprefented. 

WAS  the  Author  difpofed  to  proceed  in  the  'Sect. 
Way  of  Declamation,  he  is  of  Opinion, 
that  the  Chrifrian  Church  has  not,  in  any  Inllance,' 
for  Ages  paft,  afforded  a  more  fruitful  Subjedl  for. 
it.     But  it  is  his  Defign  only  to  ftate  Arguments ' 
and  Fads  as  briefly  as  he  can,  and  to  recommend 
them  to  the  candid  Confideration  of  the  Public' 
He  therefore  begs  Leave,  on  the  foregoing  Repre^^ 
fentation,  barely  to  make  an  Appeal  to  the  Con-"* 
fciences  of  Men  in  Behalf  of  the  Church — whether,^ 
in  Cafe  the  religious  Society  whereto  they  belong,' 
was  doomed  to  undergo  fuch  an  Hardfhip  as  the' 
Church  of  England  in  America  fuffers  for  Wanti 
cf  Ordination,  to  fay  nothing  of  other  Inftances,^ 
they  would  not  think  themfelvcs  injured,  and  copi- 
piain  mofl:  bitterly  ?  If  any  other  Denomination  of ' 
Chriftians  in  his  Majefty's  American  Dominion^-' 
was   not  allowed  to  have  a  Clergyman,  without 
paying  a  Fine  of  One  Hundred  Founds  Sterling 
on  his  AdmifTion,  and  expoling  him,  at  the  famei- 
Time,    to    fome   dangerous   Procefs,    which  had^ 
proved  fatal  to  a  fifth  Part  of  his  Predecellbrs, 
would  they  not  efteem  i:  an  intolerable  Grievance^  i 
and  a  cruel  Perfecution  ?  And  indeed,  would  not  ^ 
every  difmterefted  Perfon  confider  it  in  the  fame' 
Light?  Now,  if  this  w^ould  be  efteemed  Perfecu-' 
tion,  in  the  Cafe  of  Prefbyterians  or  Congrega- 
tionalifts,  or  of  any  ather  religious  Denomination 
of  People  in  this  Country,  why  it  (hould  beefteem- 
cd  lefs  when  fuffered  by  the  Church  of  England, 

is 


40  A  N     A  P  P  E  A  L 

Sect,  is  hard  to  conceive.     We  have  the  fame  Feelings, 
^'    the  fame  Senfibility  with  other  Perfons,  and  arc. 
equally  alFeded  by  any  Sufferings. 

Some  perhaps  may  difpute  the  Propriety  of  the 
"Word,  as  the  great  Grievance  in  Queilion  arifes 
no:  from  any  pofitive  Exertion  of  Civil  Power 
againft  us :  but  if  it  be  not  properly  Perfecution, 
it  is  fomething  that  is  as  bad  in  its  natural  Confe- 
quences.  It  may  be  queftioned,  whether  the  woril: 
Perfecutions  have  ever  exterminated  a  fifth  Part 
of  the  Clergy  in  any  Country  ;  and  it  is  evident, 
that  all  dire§:  Perfecutions  have  been  attended  with 
this  good  Efredt,  that  the  religious  Zeal  of  thofe 
againil  whom  they  have  been  intended,  has  been 
animated  and  increafed :  whereas,  in  the  particular 
Species  of  fuffering,  of  which  the  American  Church 
fo  juftly  complains,  there  is  a  peculiar  Tendency 
to  render  the  Mem. hers  of  it  carelefs  and  indiffe- 
rent in  religious  Matters,  and  regardlefs  of  its 
Intereils. 

If  there  are  any  Points,  in  which  the  Reafon 
and  common  Senfe  of  Mankind  can  be  fuppofed  to 
agree,  this  muft  unqueftionably  be  one,  that  the 
Church  of  England  in  America,  under  the  before- 
mentioned  Disadvantages,  aldiough  not  formally 
perfecuted,  is  in  a  mofr  wretched  and  deplorable 
Condition.  And,  w^e  who  are  Members  of  it^ 
cannot  but  think  it  an  Aggravation  of  our  Unhap- 
pinefs,  that  it  appears  to  be  altogether  unprece- 
dented ;  we  being  fingled  out  from  all  the  People 
upon  Earth  to  be  made  the  lirfl  Example  of  it.  It 
would  be  but  a  poor  Confolation,  we  confefs,  to 
be  able  to  recoiled  Inflances,  wherein  others  have 
fuffered  in  the  fime  Manner  with  ourfelves.  But 
yet  our  Condition  feems  to  imply,  and  Strangers 
mAy  conclude  from  it,  that  there  has  been  fome- 
thing 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  4^ 


thing  grofly  amifs  and  unprecedented  in  our  Beha- 
viour, which  has  brought  down  upon  us  the  Dif- 
pleafure  of  our  Superiors,  from  whom  we  might 
otherwife  expedt,  at  leaft,  that  common  Protediori 
and  Indulgence,  which  is  fo  generouily  and  pro- 
perly afforded  to  all  others. 

But  while  we  thus  fuffer,  we  are  not  apprehen- 
five  that  it  can  be  owing  to  the  Difpleafure  of  our 
Superiors,  as  we  are  confcious  of  no  Crimes,  with 
Regard  to  the  State.  On  the  other  Hand  we  claim 
a  Right  to  be  confidered  as  equal  with  the  fore- 
moil,  in  every  due  Expreflion  of  Fidelity  and 
Loyalty.  We  efteem  ourfelves  bound,  not  only 
by  prefent  Intereft  and  Inclination,  but  by  the 
more  facred  Ties  of  our  religious  Principles  and 
Chriftian  Duty,  to  fupport,  to  the  utmoft,  the 
National  Civil  Ellablifhment.  Accordingly  no 
Trumpet  of  Sedition  was  ever  heard  to  found  from 
our  Pulpits — no  Seeds  of  Difaffedion  have  been 
fuffered  more  privately  to  be  fown  in  our  Houfes. 
As  our  Religion  teaches  us,  in  the  firft  Place,  and 
above  all  Things  to  fear  God  j  fo,  while  we  can 
preferve  it,  it  will  be  a  full  Security  to  the  Govern- 
ment for  our  honouring  the  King,  and  not  meddlings 
with  them  that  are  given  to  Change  *. 

If  then  the  Church  of  England  in  America  is  not 
diftinguilhed  by  the  Want  of  Duty  and  AfFedlion 
to  the  Government,  why  fhould  it  be  thus  diftin- 
guilhed 

*  This  Declaration  is  not  intended  to  imply  any  Accufation  of 
others  j  who  are  able,  it  is  hoped,  to  make  their  own  Defence, 
whenever  the  Occafion  (hall  require  it.  His  Majefty's  American 
Subje^s,  of  all  Denominations,  belonging  to  the  old  Colonies, 
have  always  profcffed  Sentiments  of  Loyalty  j  and  the  Author 
belietes  they  have  generally  been  fincere  in  thofe  Profeffions.  If 
ihere  have  been  any  late  Appearances  of  undutiful  Behaviour  ia 
the  Colonies,  they  have  ariien,  not  from  any  Difaffeftion  towards 

G  ^'^ 


Sect, 
IV, 


42  ANAPPEAL 

Skct.  guilhed  and  ftigmatized  by  the  Want  of  thofe  rc- 
'    ligious  Privileges,  which  are  granted  to  all  other 
Denominations  of  Chriftians  whatever,  in  the  Bri- 
tifh  Dominions.     In  our  petitioning  for  Bilhops, 
all  that  we  afl<  for  ourfelves,  is   what  has  been 
freely  granted  to  others,  v/hat  has  been  refufed  to 
none  elfe  who  have  applied  for  it.     We  requeft 
only  the  Liberty  of  enjoying  the  Inflitutions  of  our 
Church,  and  thereby  of  being  put  upon  an  equal 
Footing  with  our  Neighbours — with  the  various 
Seds  of  Englifh  DiiTenters,  who  have  the  full  En- 
joyment of  their  refpeftive  Forms  of  Eccleiiaftical 
Government  and  Difcipline — and  even  with  the 
Moravians  and  Papifls,  who  are  feverally  allowed 
a  BijQiop.     And  we  cannot  but  flatter  ourfelves, 
that  we  have  as  good  a  Right  to  expect  Succefs  in 
an  Application  of  this  Nature,  as  if  we  were  Dif- 
fenters,  or  Moravians,  or  Papifts.    For  it  is  utterly 
inconceivable  to  us,  that  there  can  be  any  Thing 
in  the  peculiar  Principles  of  our  Religion,  or  in 
the  diflinguifhing  Circumilance  of  its   being  the 
national  Religion,  that  can  account  for  a  Refufal  +. 

It  has  been  faid,  that  we  look  upon  the  Cafe  of 
the  Church  of  England  in  America  to  be  unpre- 
cedented. 


his  Majefty's  facred  Perfon — not  from  any  Want  of  Efteenr\  for  the 
civil  Conftitution — but  from  an  Opinion  of  unconftiiuiioual  Oppref- 
lion.  And  fo  long  as  the  free  Principles  of  the  Britifli  Conftitu- 
tion fliall  be  extended  to  the  Colonies,  whofe  Inhabitants,  how- 
ever difvided  in  other  Relpeets,  all  agree  in  maintaining  the  fame 
Efteeni  for  Liberty  with  true  Engliftimen  at  Home,  there  will  be 
no  Danger  of  their  attempting  to  revolt. 

-f-  **  If  among  the  feveral  Denominations  of  Chriftians  there  be 
*<  ong,  which  has  preferved  the  due  Medium — in  its  Difcipline,  be- 
**  tween  Tyranny  and  Oppreflion  on  one  Hand,  and  Licentiouf- 
**  nefs  and  Anarchy  on  the  other — in  its  DoBrines,  between  fuch 
**  Claims  of  Infallibility  as  preclude  all  private  Judgment,  and  fuch 
"  Latitude  as  would  render  a  Revelation  infignificant  for  thePur- 
**  pofe  of  a  Rule  of  Faith— in  its  Wlrjhip,  between  fuperftitious 
**  »nd  idolatrous  Po;np,  and  a  Negle<5l  of  Decency  and  Order— if 

"  ia 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  43 

cedented.  That  it  is  fo,  compared  with  the  State  Sect. 
of  religious  Denominations  in  the  Britifh  Domi- 
nions,  has  been  already  fhewn.  And  if  we  look- 
abroad,  or  carry  our  Inquiries  back  through  all 
the  Ages  of  the  Church  to  its  firil  Origin,  I  am 
perfuaded  we  fhall  not  be  able  to  find  its  Parallel. 

During  the  Time  of  the  Apoftles,  as  the  Num- 
ber of  Chriflians  increafed.  Care  was  taken  to 
form  them  into  proper  Ecclefiaftical  Diflrids,  and 
a  Bifhop  was  appointed  for  each,  "  to  fet  in  Or- 
"  der  the  Things  that  were  w^anting,  and  to  ordain 
"  Elders  in  every  City^."  What  was  the  Extent 
of  thefe  original  Diftrids,  to  which  the  Exercife 
of  the  Epifcopal  Authority  was  ordinarily  limited, 
is,  perhaps,  not  eafy  exadtly  to  determine  at  this 
Day.  But  it  is  moft  probable,  that  in  every  large 
City,  including  its  Environs  and  Dependencies, 
where  the  Gofpel  had  been  received,  and  the  Num- 
ber of  Chriflian  Congregations  and  Prefbyters  was 
confiderable,  Bifhops  were  appointed.  And  in 
every  Territory,  which  had  natural  Boundaries  and 
Limitations,  whereby  it  was  made  feparate  and 
diftindl  from  the  neighbouring  Countries,  whether 
it  did  or  did  not  include  any  Capital  City,  pro- 
vided, as  befor?,  that  the  Number  of  Churches 
required  it,  a  Bifhop  was  alfo  fettled.  By  this 
Means  due  Provifion  was  made  for  the  whole 
Church,  and  no  large  Number  of  Chriftians  was 

negledted 

**  \ry  its  profeffed  Principles,  it  be  beft  fitted  to  promote  public 
<*  Peace  and  Happinefs,  and  in  its  external  Polity  ht^  adapted  to 
<*  the  Form  of  the  civil  Conftitution  :--.and  if,  over  and  above 
*«  all  thefe,  it  be  in  other  Refpe^fmo^  conformable  to  the  original 
<«  Standard,  and  to  the  Ufages  of  the  beft  and  pureft  Ages  of 
<*  Chriftianity :  Such  a  Society  of  Chriftians  (we  truft)  will  ever 
<*  recommend  itfelf  to  a  wife  and  religious  Legiflature,  as  worthy 
«  of  the  /r/,  and  always  of  the  chief  Care :^      Dr.  Gt  FothirgiU, 

*  Titus  i.  5. 


IV 


44  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  ncgkdled,  nor  fiifFered  to  continue  long  without  a 
regular  Ecclefiaflical  Government. 

An  Inftance  of  this  general  Care  is  to  be  found 
in  Crete^  over  which  'Titus  was  appointed  Bilhop 
by  St.  Paul'^  at  a  Time,  when  the  Number  of  Con- 
verts in  that  Ifland,  was  probably  much  inferior  to 
the  prefent  Number  of  profefled  Chriftians,  in  more 
than  one  of  our  Britilh  American  Idands.     In  the 
fucceeding  Ages,  until  the  Roman   Empire  be- 
came Chriftian,  this  Apoftolic  Plan  was  carefully 
followed,    and  the  Number   of  Bifhops  was  in- 
creafed,  in  Proportion  to  the  growing  Extent  and 
Advancement  of  Chriftianity  *.  When  the  Church 
at  length  obtained  the  Protection  and  Patronage  of 
the   State,    thefe  Ecclefiaflical   Regulations  were 
efiaUijhed  by  Law^  and  Bifhops,  in  the  Exercife  of 
their  Jurifdi6tion,   were   aided  and   lupported  by 
Civil  Power. 

If  we  purfue  the  Hiilory  of  the  Church  from 
this  Period,  we  fhall  meet  v/ith  no  Inllance,  in 
which  any  large  Number  of  People  profelyted  to 
the  Chriftian  Rehgion,  or  any  confiderable  Colo- 
nies, fettled  by  a  Chriftian  Country,  have  been 
without  a  Biftiop,  the  Dutch  Colonies  excepted, 
which  do  not  defire  thern.  It  has  been  the  Prac- 
tice of  all  Chriftian  Nations,  to  provide  for  and 
maintain  the  national  Religion,  ^nd  to  render  it  as 
refpeclable  as  poilible,  in  the  moft  diftant  Colo- 
nies ;  wherein,  either  a  Regard  for  their  Religion, 
or  Reafons  of  Policy,  and  probably  both,  have  led 
them  to  take  equal  Care  for  the  Eftabliftiment  of 
Ecclefiaftical,  as  of  Civil  Government.  As  to 
America^  in  particular,  wherever  we  meet  with 
French  or  Spanifh  Settlements,  we  find  BiHiops. 

In 

*  gingham's  AntiquitiiSt  Book  \x. 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  45 

In  Canada^  a  Country  lefs  populous  than  many  of  Sect. 
the  Britifh  Colonies,  when  we  took  Pofleflion  of    ^^* 
it,  there  was  a  compleat  Ecclefiaftical  Eftablifh- 
ment  under  an  Epifcopate. 

But  we  need  not  confine  our  Inquiries  to  Chri- 
llian  Nations  and  Countries.  If  we  confult  the 
Records  of  Paganifm  and  Mahomet anijm^  the  Cafe 
appears  always  to  have  been  the  fame  in  this  Rc- 
fpe6b.  Among  the  ancient  civilized  Heathens,  the 
national  Religion  was  never  negledled ;  for  it  was 
generally  confidered  as  one  of  the  firft  Duties  of 
the  Civil  Magiftrate,  to  encourage,  fupport  and 
increafe  its  Influence,  to  the  utmoft  of  his  Power. 
And  the  Mahometans  have  ever  been  as  zealous  in 
propagating  their  Religion,  as  in  extending  their 
Conquefts. 

This  univerfal  Pra6lice  of  all  Nations  and  Ages, 
has  proceeded  from  Two  general  Principles  that 
are  deeply  founded  in  human  Nature,  and  human 
Policy.  The  firft  is  infeparable  from  our  Nature, 
and  neceflarily  leads  Men  to  exert  themfelves,  for 
the  Prefervation  and  Security  of  whatever  they 
efteem  and  hold  to  be  valuable,  in  Proportion  as 
they  judge  of  its  Ufefulnefs  and  Importance.  The 
other  feems  to  be  a  fundamental  Principle  of  found 
and  confiftent  Policy,  which  neceflarily  requires 
the  Protection  and  Security  of  the  national  Reli- 
gion. For  as  fome  Religion  has  been  ever  thought, 
by  the  wifeft  Legiflators,  to  be  neceflary  for  the 
Security  of  Civil  Government,  and  accordingly  has 
always  been  interwoven  into  the  Conftitution  of  it; 
fo,  in  every  Nation,  that  Religion  which  is  thus 
diftinguilhed,  muft  be  looked  upon  as,  in  the 
Opinion  of  the  Legiflature,  the  beft  fitted  for  this 
great  Purpofe. 

Wherever 


46  AN    APPEAL 

Sect.  Wherever  therefore  the  national  Religion  is  not 
^^*  made,  in  fome  Degree,  a  national  Concern,  it  will 
commonly  be  confidered  as  an  Evidence,  that  thofe 
who  have  the  Direftion  of  the  national  Affairs  do 
not  efleem  their  Religion — or,  that  they  are  negli- 
gent of  the  Duty  they  owe  to  God  and  the  Public, 
as  the  Guardians  of  its  Flappinefs. 


SECT. 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  47 


SECTION    V. 

Rcafons  ajftgned  why  the  Church  in  America  has  been 
thus  negle5fed. 


A 


RE  v/e  then,  from  the  prefent  State  of  the  Sect. 
Church  of  England  in  America,  inimedi-     V. 


ately  to  form  fo  harfh  a  Coaclufion,  concerning 
thole  who  have  the  Diredion  of  our  national  Af- 
fairs ?  Muil  we  necefiarily  fuppofe,  that  they  have 
no  Efteem  and  Afre6lion  for  that  Religion,  v/hich 
is  fo  clofely  allied  and  conneded  with  the  Confti- 
tution  of  the  State?  Has  the  Condiiuf  of  the  Church 
of  England  been  fuch,  with  Regard  to  the  Go- 
vernment— or,  are  its  Frincifles  fuch,  that  it  is  not 
in  titled  to  the  fame  Care  and  Protedlion,  which 
other  Kingdoms  and  States  have  ever  afforded  to 
the  national  Religion,  whether  ChrJitian,  Maho- 
metan, or  Pagan  r .  Neither  of  thefe,  it  is  hoped, 
can  be  faid  properly. 

Although  the  Church  of  England  in  America 
appears  not  hitherto  to  have  been  made  a  national 
Concern  ;  yet  many  Reaions  may  be  affigned  for 
this  Negledl,  owing  to  the  peculiar  Circum.flances 
of  the  Englifh  Nation  and  Colonies,  which  wJli 
account  for,  although,  perhaps,  not  altogether  ex- 
cufe  it.  The  Colonies  were  generally  fettled  by 
private  Adventurers  -,  and  fome  of  them,  by  thofe 
who  had  an  Averfion  to  Epifcopal  Government. 
The  Propriety  of  not  fending  a  Bifhop  to  Colonies 
of  the  lat  er  Sort,  will  be  difputed  by  none  :  and 
as  to  the  others,  their  Beginnings  were  fmall,  and 
for  fome  Time  an  EpifcQpate  was  not  greatly 
wanted,  ~  Befides, 


48  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  Befides,  it  ought  to  be  confidered,  that  the  Chafl^ 
^'  ges  of  Government — the  Revolutions  of  Power— 
the  Oppofition  of  contending  Parties  at  Home — 
the  Intrigues  of  foreign  Courts — and  the  Attacks 
of  neighbouring  Kingdoms  and  States,  have  gene- 
rally been  more  than  fufficient  to  employ  the  pub- 
lic Attention,  almoft  ever  fmce  the  Rife  of  our 
Colonies.  Accordingly  we  have  found,  that  even 
the  commercial  and  political  Importance  of  thefe 
Colonies,  has  been  but  little  known  or  regarded, 

!  until  of  very  late  Years.  In  thefe  Circumftances^ 
it  is  not  to  be  wondered,  that  the  Cafe  of  the 
Church  in  America,  has  not  been  attended  to ; 
efpecially  as  the  Members  of  it,  not  excepting  the 
Clergy,  have  been  carelefs  themfelves,  and  not 
made  thofe  Reprefentations  in  Favour  of  it,  which 
they  ought  to  have  made. 

To  this  may  be  added,  that  fo  long  as  no  re- 
gular Plan  for  an  American  Epifcopate  was  fettled 
and  propofed,  a  Fear  of  infringing  the  religious 
Rights  of  Proteftant  DifTenters  in  this  Country, 
for  which  both  our  Civil  and  Ecclefiaftical  Rulers 
have  fo  tender  a  Regard,  muft  have  created  an  al- 
moft infuperable  Difficulty  in  carrying  into  Exe- 
cution a  Work  of  this  Nature. 

Our  own  Negligence  in  this  Country  has  been 
confefTed ;  and  I  wifh  as  much  could  be  fairly  faid 
in  Excufe  for  it.  How  can  the  Neceffities  of  the 
Church  here  be  known,  at  a  Diftance,  unlefs  thofe 
who  refide  here  will  be  at  the  Trouble  of  reprefen- 
ting  them  ?  And  from  whom  can  fuch  Reprefen- 
tations be  properly  expeded,  but  from  the  Clergy, 
and  other  Friends  and  Members  of  the  Church  ? 

Indeed  there  have  not  been  wanting  fome  Indi- 
viduals, for  almoft  a  Century  back,  who  have  feen 

and 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  49 

and  lamented  the  Want  of  Bifhops  in  this  Country,  Sect. 
and  endeavoured  to  obtain  them  :  and  there  .was  a 
Time,  wherein  the  Members  of  the  Church  in  ge- 
neral, feem  to  have  exerted  themfelves  in  Behalf 
of  an  Epifcopate.  So  early  as  in  1672,  this  Sub- 
je6l.  was  mentioned,  and  it  was  thought  needful 
and  expedient  even  then,  that  a  Bifhop  fhouid  re- 
fide  in  Virginia.  But  in  the  Beginning  of  this  Cen- 
Riry,  Addreffes  were  earneftly  and  repeatedly  made 
to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel  in 
foreign  PartSy  then  newly  incorporated,  figncd  not 
only  by  the  Clergy  and  by  Veftries,  but  by  Gover- 
nors of  Provinces  *,  fetting  forth  the  NecefTity  of 

an 


*  "  upon  renewed   Inftances  from   Governors   of  Provinces, 
Miniftefo,  Veftries,  and  private  Perlbns  in  the  Plantations,  for 
fettling  Ecclefiaftical  Superiors  there,  without  whom  the  Church 
muft  rather  decreafe  than  increafe  5  and  from  a  full  Conviftion 
of  the  Expediency  thereof,  Biihops  being  nevermore   v*'anted 
there  than  now :  the  Society  s  Endeavours  have  been  employed, 
not  without  Expence  this  Year,  in  paving  the  Way  for  fuc/j, 
by  all  proper  Applications  and  due  Preparations  :  not  to  men- 
tion what  has  been  formerly  done  in  this  Matter,  after  a  loud 
Call  for  fifteen  Years  together,  by  a  Committee  extraordinarily- 
appointed  to  find  out  W'ays  and  Means  for  the  Maintenance  and 
Support  of  Rifhops  in  America:  nor  to  recite  the  Reprefenta- 
tions  made  in  the  laft  Reign,  concerning  this  grand  Affair,  faid, 
in  the  laft  of  them,  to  tend  to  the  Glory  of  God,  by  the  Ad'vancevient 
of  found  Religion^  the  Honour  of  her  Majeflyy  the  Profperity  of  her 
hubjeSs,  and  the  four  ijhing  Stale  of  the  Church  in  thofe  Parts  ;  of- 
fered b)^  his  Grace  of  York,  and  Lord  Bijhop  of  London,  in  May 
laft,  which  her  late  Majefty,  of  bleffed  Memory,  received  very 
gracioufly.  and  intended  to  have  proceeded  upon  :  The  Provi- 
dence of  God  has  fo  difpofcd  Events,  that  the  conceited  Mea- 
fures  may  probably  be  brought  to  Perfection  in  the  Beginning 
of  this  Reign,  as  a  moft  pregnant  Inftance  of  his  facred  Ma- 
jefty's  Favour  and  Encouragement,  promifed  to   fo  pious  and 
ufeful  a  Work,  as  he  has  been  pleafed  to  declare  that  of  the  Pro- 
pagation of  the  Gofpel  to  be.     Nor  can  our  Expectations  but 
revive,  fo  foon  as  his  Royal  Wiidom  ihall  be  apprized,  that  the 
Inclinations  of  thofe  People  in  thofe  Regions  (which  furely  is 
the  Voice  of  God  in  this  Cafe)  concur  vvi'th  the  apparent  Necef- 
fity,  that  fuch  Governors  in  the  Church  be  there  conftltuted, 
after  the  Apojiolical  Form  and  Order ;  (fo  in  one  Addrefs  to  her 
Majefty  theyexprefs  their  Sentiments:)  jft.  To  rule  and  go- 


50  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  ^n  American  Epifcopate,  and  imploring  their  In- 
fluence  and  Mediation  in  Favour  of  it.  That 
truly  charitable  and  worthy  Society,  to  whom  the 
Nation  and  the  Chriftian  World  in  general  are 
under  great  Obligations,  and  to  whofe  unexampled 
Liberality,  indefatigable  Application  and  amazing 
Perfeverance,  the  Church  of  England  owes  its  very 

Exiftence 

**  vern  well  thofe  People,  who  are  defirous  to  be  committed  to 
"  their  Charge  ;  fo  another,  ^without  ivhtch  (they  are  the  very 
**  Words  of  the  Supplicants)  no  <TJoonder  if  fame  Members  gronv  re^ 
**  mifs  in  their  Dutyy  if  many  fall  into  fcandalous  f  radices ;  and  if 
**  Atheifm^  Deifm^  &c.  pre^vail  o^er  more  z  idly.  To  defend  and  pro- 
*'  tcft  both  the  Clergy  and  Laity  :  fo  Three  more  —  3dly,  To  unite 
**  the  Clei'gy  themfelves  and  reduce  them  to  Order;  fo  his  Excel- 
**  lency  Governor  Huntery  particularly  in  a  Letter  to  the  Society, 
*'  May  1714,  For  ivithout  an  Ecdefiafiical  Superior y  the  Diforders  of 
*^'  fame  Mi£ionaries  are  not  to  be  presented  j  and  fo  the  Committee  of 
*'  the  Society  agreed,  March  30,  17 14,  to  report  as  their  Opinion, 
*'  That  the  moji  effeilualy  if  not  only  nvay,  to  present  and  heal  fuck 
'*  Di'vijionsy  is  to  ha^ve  Bijhops  fent  thither,  Laftly,  To  confirm — fo 
**  feveral  Addreffes— /Z^^a/  the  Laity y  <voho  ha've  been  initiated  into  the 
*'  Chriftian  Faith  by  Baptifm,  may  not  only  ha<ve  the  Benefit  of  Confirm 
**  mation  ;  but  alfoy  in  Co'/ijunSiion  nvith  the  Reft  of  the  Members  of  the 
**  Church  in  thofe  remote  PartSy  be  Partakers  of  the  benign  Influence  of 
*'  the  Epifcopal  FunSlion ;  in  ordaining  Minifters  from  among  them- 
**  felves  J  in  confirming  weak  Brethren,  and  blefllnj  all  Manner 
*'  of  People  fufceptible  of  fuch  holy  Impreflions,  as  are  made  by 
**  the  Impofition  of  the  Bifhop's  Hands. 

"  And  by  Way  of  Preparation  for  a  Suffragan  or  Bifliop,  in  one 
**  of  the  Sees  upon  the  Continent  of  America,  The  Society  having 
**  thought  fit  to  purchafe  a  Seat  for  his  Refidence,  fome  while 
**  fmce,  at  Six  Hundred  Pounds  Sterling  Expence,  in  a  convenient 
**  Maniion-houfe  and  Lands  fituate  at  Burlington,  within  the  Jer- 
*^  fies'y  they  have  proceeded  to  expend  this  Year,  for  Repair  of 
*'  Damages  done  by  Fire  and  otherwife,  under  Governor  Hunter's 
**  Infpeftion  and  Manage,  Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-fix  Pounds 
**  Seven  Shillings  and  Five  Pence,  as  a  farther  Teftimony  of  their 
**  Adherence  to  Refolutions  folemnly  deliberated  and  agreed  upon, 
*■'  viz.  That  the  important  Affair  of  Bifhops  and  Bijhopricks  to  be  fettled 
**  in  America,  be  confidered  in  the  firft  Place  ;  That  the  Lands  in  St. 
*'  Chriftophers,  now  held  in  Cuftodiatny  and  formerly  belonging  to 
*'  \.he  Popijh  Clergy  there,  under  a  French  Government,  bethought 
**  upon  as  a  proper  Expedient  for  the  Support  of  Proteftant 
*'  Miflionaries  in  that  Jfle,  and  maintaining  Bifliops  of  the  Churcli 
**  of  England,  for  the  IJlands,  and  for  the  Cotitinent:  And  that 
•*  Addrelfes  be  made  to  the  prefent  Sovereign,  with  all  Expedition, 
•'  and  moff  fuitabie  Application  for  thefe  Purpofes.  Now,  what 
**  happy  Succ^flej  the  g^-and  Affair  is  like  to  be  crowned  with, 

"  under 


5^ 


TOTHEPUBLIC 

Exiftence,  at  this  Day,  in  fome  of  the  ColonieSj  Sect 
moft  heartily  and  vigoroully  engaged  in  the  Pro-    ^• 
fecution  of  fo  good  a  Work.     They  began  with 
making  all  proper  Reprefentations  of  the  Cafe  to 
the  Qiieen  f— they  proceeded  to  purchafe  a  Houfe 
in  New-Jerfey,  for  the  Refidence  of  a  Bifhop— and 

after 


under  the  benign  Influences  of  his  Majeftfs  aufpicious  Reign, 

«  !^5^  fairly  be  fuggefted  from  what  is  here  inferted,  in  the  critical 

^  Minute  of  Publication,  through  the  Vigilance  of  our  Right 

«  l^everend  Diocefan,  that  upon  his  humble  Motion  to  his  Majefly  in 

Council,  that  he  would  be  gracioujly  pleafed  to  grant  that  the  Lands 

and  PofeJJions  in  the  Ifle   of  St.  Chriftophers,  ivhich  formerly  be- 

longed  to  the  French  Clergy  there,  Jhould  hencejorth  be  applied  to  the 

Maintainance  of  Protejlant  Mimjlers  o/the  eftablifhed  Church  of 

•^    England,  to  be  employed  in  America  ;  his  Majefly  referred  it  to  the 

'  Lords  of  his  Treafury,  to  ccnjider  offuch  an  Appropriation  j  n-vhere- 

upon  It  has  been  hu?nbly  propofed,  by  his  Grace  the  herd  Archbifhop  of 

Canterbury  Prefident,  and  the  LordBiJhop  oj  London,  one  of  the  Vice- 

Frefidents  oj  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gofpel  in  foreign 

I'arts  J  that  the  faid  Lands  andPoffeffions,  be  defied  in  thefaid  Society  5 

«  and  that  fo  much  of  the  Revenues  thereof  as  fhall  remain  after  due 

Provifion  made  for  licenced  and  appro'ved  Minifiers  in  that  Ifland,  be 

"  applied  for  or  tonvards  the  Maintenance  of  two  Biftiops,  one  to  be 

'.*  /i  •  >?  '"  ^^^  Inlands,  and  the  other  on  the  Continent  of  his 

Majeffs  Dominions  in  America^    Ahfraa  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 

Society  jor  iji^.,  Page  s^.  -'  ^    -^ 

The  preceeding  ExtroB,  from  a  Narration  which  is  in  fo  few 
Hands  at  this  Day,  affords  fo  much  Intelligence,  and  fo  many  ufe- 
jul  Hints  reiztmg  to  the  Subjeft  before  us,  that  it  is  not  doubted 
but  the  Reader  will  readily  excufe  the  Length  of  it. 

t  In  one  of  their  Addrefles  to  the  Qu^een,  were  the  following 
Words :  "  We  cannot  but  take  this  Opportunity,  farther  to  re- 
"  prefent  to  your  Majelty,  with  the  greateft  Humility,  the  earneft 
*'  and  repeated  Defires  not  only  of  the  Miflionaries,  hut  of  divers 
•'  other  confiderable  Perfons  that  are  in  Communion  with  our 
"  excellent  Church,  to  have  a  Bifhop  fettled  in  your  American 
'*  Plantations,  which  we  humbly  conceive  to  be  very  ufeful  and 
**  neceffary  for  eftablifhing  the  Gofpel  in  thofe  Parts,  that  they 
«*  may  be  better  united  among  themfelves  than  at  prefent  they 
"  are,  and  more  able  to  withftand  the  Defigns  of  their  Enemies  ; 
"  that  there  may  be  Confirmations,  which  in  their  prefent  State 
*'  they  cannot  have  the  Benefit  of;  and  that  an  eafy  and  fpeedy 
"  Care  may  be  taken  of  all  the  other  Affairs  of  the  Church,  which 
*^  is  much  increafed  in  thofe  Parts,  and  to  which,  through  your 
**  Majefty's  gracious  Proteftion  and  Encouragement,  we  truft  that 
•*  yet  a  greater  Addition  will  daily  be  made.  We  humbly  pray 
**  Leave  to  add,  that  we  are  inform.ed  the  French  have  received 
'^  feveral  great  Advantages  from  their  eftabliftiing  a  Bi/hop  ^t 
iX  S^ebeckr    Dr,  Kmnffs  annhfrfary  Sjmoft,  Anno  lyiz.  Page  2;. 


5^ 


AN     APPEAL 


Sect,  after  duly  preparing  the  Way,  obtained  an  Order 
^  •  from  the  Crov/n  for  a  Bill  :|:  to  be  drawn  and  laid 
before  the  Parliament,  for  eflablifhing  an  Ame- 
rican Epifcopate  : — but  when  the  Affair  was  in  a 
Way  of  being  fpeedily  accomplillied,  the  Death  of 
that  excellent  Princefs  fiiddenly  put  *  Stop  to  it. 

The  Attempt  was  renev/ed  with  the  famie  Spirit, 
in  the  Begining  of  the  next  Reign,  and  the  Prof-, 
pedl  of  Succefs  was  molt  encouraging  §  •,  but^ — 
It  proved  abortive.  The  Reafons  of  this  Mifcar- 
riage  are  not  now  well  known  in  America.  Pof- 
fibiy  the  Rebellion,  which  foon  broke  out,  diverted 
the  Royal  Attention  to  Subjeds  of  a  different 
Nature— perhaps  alfo  the  Clergy,  and  Members 
of  the  Church  in  this  Country,  grew  carelefs  them- 
felves,  and  neglected  to  renew  their  Application; 
aiid  their  Silence  may  have  been  conftrued  by  the 
Government  to  imply,  that  the  NecefTity  of  the 

American 

X  **  However,  there  being  already  fo  many  Minifters  fettled  in 
*'  thefe  foreign  Parts  (by  the  unwearied  Application  of  the  So- 
*'  ciety,  and  the  great  V^atchfulnefs  of  the  B\{hop  o^  London  over 
•*  his  Charge,  both  before  the  Societys  InHitnt'ion  and  (ince)  as  ex- 
•*  ceed  the  Number  of  thofe  in  m?ix\y  Diocefes  in  England ;  and  the 
*'  Traft  of  Land  on  the  Continent  where  they  are  planted,  ex- 
*•  clufive  of  the  Iflands,  being  larger  in  Extent  by  far  than  both 
*•'  the  Provinces  of  Canterbury  and  York  put  together;  it  has  pleafed 
*'  the  Divine  Providence  to  raife  in  the  Heart  of  her  Moft  Excel- 
*•'  lent  Majefty,  a  Zeal  for  the  better  Regulation  of  thofe  Places,  in 
**  the  ErtabHfhment  of  Ecclffiajlical  Supertorsy  who  may  govern 
**  both  Priefts  and  People,  according  to  the  ancient  Apoftolical,, 
"  Form,  the  Model  oi  X.\\e  Englifh  Church,  the  Inclinations  of  many 
*'  of  the  People,  and  the  beft  Methods  of  bringing  Souls  to  Heaven  : 
*^  Accordingly,  after  the  moll  mature  Deliberation  of  a  Commit- 
'«  tee  appointed  for  that  Piirpofe,  and  of  the  whole  Society  there- 
*'  upon  :  A  Reprefentation  was  humbly  offered  to  her  Majefty, 
*'  importing  what  Number  was  expedient  to  be  fent— where  they 
*'  were  to  be  fixed— and  what  Revenues  might  be  thought  proper. 
«f  for  their  Support  :  To  which  her  Majefty  was  pleafed  to  givov 
*'  a  moft  gracious  Anfwer,  highly  fatisfaftory  to  the  Society  j  and 
•'  a  Draught  of  a  Bill  was  ordered,  proper  to  be  offered  to  thq 
•*  Parliament,  for  eftabliftiingBilhops  and  Bifliopricksin  America." 

Abjira^  in  171  it  Page  5$,, 

§  See  the  prcceeding  Note,  Page  49. 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  53 

American  Church  was  not  fo  urgent  as  had  been  Sect. 
formerly  reprefented. 

However,  the  venerable  Patrons  and  Supporters 
of  the  Church  in  America,  the  Society  for  the  Pro- 
pagation of  the  Gofpel^  notwithilanding  our  ov/n 
Negligence  and  Stupidity  in  this  Country,  v/ith 
Regard  to  a  Matter  which  fo  nearly  concerns  us, 
(for  which  the  P'ailure  of  the  before-mentioned 
Attempts  mull  apologize  as  well  as  it  can)  con- 
tinued to  keep  Sight  of  the  great  Objed;  •,  and  they 
have  ever  been  v/atching  for  feafjnable  Opportu- 
nities of  exerting  themfelves  to  obtain  it. 

In  the  mean  Time,  the  public  Declarations  of 
its  moil  illuilrious  Members,  concerning  the  Pro- 
priety, Ufefulnefs  and  Neceffity  of  fending  Bifhops 
to  America,  frequently  made  as  Occafions  have 
been  fuitable,  have  done  Honour  not  only  to  them- 
felves, but  to  the  Society  in  general  •,  as  we  flatter 
ourfeives  that  they  exprefs  the  commion  Sentiments 
of  that  venerable  Body,  as  well  as  their  own  *. 
And  although  hitherto  their  Endeavours  to  pro- 
cure for  us  an  Epifcopate  have  been  unfuccelsful, 
they  have  never  difpaired  of  fuccecding  in  the 
End ;  and  while  the  Times  would  admit  of  nothing 
farther  to  be  done  in  Favour  of  it,  a  Fund  for  its 
future  Support  was  raifed  under  their  Iniiuence  and 
Aufpices—thty  never  having  ceafcd  to  hope,  amidil 
the  moft  difcouraging  Prolpe61:s,  "  that  a  Defign" 
(to  ufe  the  Words  of  the  late  Bifhop  Butler  on  this 
Subject)  "  fo  neceflary  and  unexceptionable,  could 
^'  not  but  at  laft  be  put  in  Execution." 

SECT. 


*  See  in  particular  the   excellent  anniveiTary  i-etn/)ns  of  tv.o 
gr€»t  Prelates  now  living,  one  preached  in  1740,  the  other  in  1764., 


54  ANAPPEAL 


SECTION    VI. 

^hat  the  prefent  JunBure  is  apprehended  to  he  favou- 
rable to  the  Epifcopate  in  ^ejiion. 

?ECT.  ^nr^HE  favourable  Opportunity  which  has  fo 
^^'  X  ^ong  been  waited  for,  in  the  Opinion  of 
many  wife  and  judicious  Peifons  in  America,  now 
prefents  itfelf — and  fuch,  in  feveral  Refpeds,  as 
the  Circumflances  of  the  Nation  have  never,  until 
novv,  afforded.  As  the  Tumults  of  War  have 
ceafed,  and  the  public  Tranquillity  is  reflored, 
without  any  reafonable  Sufpicions  of  a  fpeedy  In- 
terruption— fo,  the  greatefb  Harmony  fubfifts  be- 
tween our  Mother-Country  and  moft  of  the  Colo- 
nies, the  late  Difputes  having  been  brought,  by 
the.Wifdom  and  good  Temper  of  the  former,  to  a 
happy  Termination — the  Flan  of  an  American 
Epifcopate  has  been  previoufly  fettled,  and  ad- 
jufted  in  fuch  a  Manner,  that  the  rehgious  Privi- 
leges of  none  can  be  violated  or  endangered— and, 
v/hich  we  fhould  ever  acknowledge  with  all  Thank- 
fulnefs,  we  are,  at  this  Time,  fo  happy  as  to  have 
a  Prince  on  the  Throne,  from  whofe  moft  un- 
queftionabie  Difpofition  to  promote  the  general 
Intereft  of  Virtue  and  Religion,  from  v/hofe  fm- 
cere  Affection  for  the  Church,  and  from  whofe 
moft  gracious  Declarations  on  the  Subjed  before 
us,  we  cannot  poffibly  doubt  of  the  Royal  Appro- 
bation and  Concurrence— while  a  wife  and  virtuous 
Miniftry  cannot  fail  of  being  ready,  to  afford  to  fo 
good  a  Caufe,  all  needful  AfTiftance.  Thefe  are 
die  Advantages,  which  now  happily  concur  to  fa- 

youip 


T  O    T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C:  5^ 

vour  the  American  Church,  and  which  peculiarly  Sect. 
mark  the  prefent  Period.  VI. 

It  ought  to  be  farther  confidered,  that  the  Ar- 
guments for  fending   Bifhops   to  America,  were 
never  fo  urgent  and  forcible  as  they  are  at  prefent. 
When  fuch  Progrefs  was  made  towards  obtainino^ 
for  this  Country  an  Epifcopate,  in  the  former  Par't 
of  this  Century,  the  Number  of  American  Clero-y 
and  ProfeiTors  of  the  Church,  although  judo-ed 
then  to  be  greater  than  in  many  DiocefTes  in  Eno-- 
land  ^  was  fmall  and  inconfideraWe,  in  Compan- 
fon  With  the  Amount  of  their  prefent  Number. 
The  amazing  natural  Increafe  of  the  Colonifts,  and 
the  vaft  Acceffion  of  Europeans  to  the  Britifh  Ame- 
rica, have,  in  the  Compafs  of  Fifty  or  Sixty  Years 
fo  enlarged  the  Number  of  its  Inhabitants,  and 
proportionably  of  the  Members  of  the  Church, 
that  perhaps  it  is  not  inferior  now,  to  the  Number 
of  Inhabitants  in  all  the  DiocelTes  in  the  Province 
ofTork^  exclufive  of  DifTenters. 

Should  it  be  faid,  that  the  Church  of  England 
in  America  contains  now  near  a  Million  of  Mem- 
bers, the  AfTertion  might  be  juftified.  It  is  nor 
eafy  to  afcertain  the  Number  exaftly,  in  a  Country 
fo  widely  extended  and  unequally  peopled;  but 
from  general  Calculations  it  has  been  frequently 
faid  of  late  Years,  that  the  proper  Subjeds  of  the 
Britilh  Crown  in  America  amount  to  Three  Mil- 
lions.  This  has  been  faid  even  in  the  Parliament 
of  Great-Britain,  if  our  Information  may  be  trulted 
—it  has  been  repeatedly  faid  in  this  Country,  by 
fome  of  our  moil  fenfible  Writers.  Strangers  may 
be  aftonilhed  at  fo  large  an  Account,  but  tl)  others 
It  is  not  incredible. 

An 


*  See  Note,  Page  52. 


56  ANAPPEAL 

Sect."  An  aflual  Survey  *  of  the  Number  of  Inhabi- 
^^'  tants  in  1762,  with  a  Diilribution  of  them  into 
CiaiTes,  according  to  their  religious  ProfelTions, 
is  faid  to  have  been  carefully  made  :  and  it  was 
then  found,  that,  not  including  the  new  Colonies 
ceded  by  the  laft  general  Treaty  of  Peace,  they 
amounted  to  between  Two  and  Three  Millions,  in 
the  Colonies  and  Iflands.  Of  the  Whites^  the  Pro- 
feiTors  of  the  Church  were  about  a  third  Part — the 
Prelbyterians,  Independents  and  Anabaptifls  were 
not  fo  many — the  Germans,  Papiils  and  other  De- 
nominations,  amounted  to  more. 

Let  this  Reprefentation  be  carefully  confidered, 
and  it  will  appear  in  a  very  evident  and  flriking 
Light,  that  the  Wants  of  the  American  Church, 
as  it  has  been  deditute  of  Eiihops,  muft  have  na- 
turally increafed,  and  can  amount  nov/  to  little  lefs 
than  an  abfoluteNecelTity.  In  thefe  Circumftances, 
could  fuch  a  Number  ot  Chriilians,  even  under  a 
Pagan  Government,  unlefs  in  a  State  of  open  Per- 
ft^cution,  provided  they  had  alv/ays  proved  them- 
felves  loyal  and  faithful  Subjedls,  apply  in  vain  for 
a  Favour,  fo  needful  for  themifelves,  and  fo  harm- 
lefs  to  others  ?  How  much  lefs  Reafon  then  can 
the  Church  in  America  have  to  fear  a  Refufal  in 
xhQ  prefent  Cafe,  not  only  from  a  Chrillian  Na- 
tion, famied  for  its  prudent  Indulgence  to  all  re- 
ligious Denominations  in  general — but  from  a 
Nation,  which  is  moreover  difpofcd  to  befriend  it, 
from  peculiar  Reafons  both  of  Affection  and  Policy  ? 

This  Argument  taken  from  the  Numler  of  thofc 
v.'ho  belong  to  the  Church  of  England  in  America, 
Will  receive  great  additional  Force,  from  a  Con- 
fideration  of  the  State  of  the  Blacks  m  our  Iflands 

and 

f  Communicated  by  a  Gentleman  of  wntloubted  Veracity, 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  57 

and  Colonies ;  who  were   found,  in  the  above-  ^egt, 
mentioned  Survey,  to  be  about  Eight  Hundred  and    ^^* 
Forty-four  Thoufand.     Although  many  of  thefe, 
it  is  to  be  feared,  through  the  Negledt   of  their 
Mailers,  are  not  Chriilians  at  all;  yet,  as  they  are 
connedled  with,  and  under  the  immediate  Govern- 
ment of,  Perfons   who  profefs  Chriftianity,  they 
may  be  faid,  in  an  imperfed  Senfe,  to  belong  to 
the  relpedtive  religious  ClafTes  of  their  Owners. 
However,  their  Situation  is  undoubtedly  fuch,  that 
in  Proportion  as  a  Senfe  of  Religion  prevails  in 
their  Mailers,  they  will  receive  Benefit.     Now  as 
thefe  are  known  chiefly  to  belong  to  the  Profeflbrs 
of  the  Church,    if  an  Epifcopate   will  naturally 
tend  to  improve  the  State  of  Religion  in  the  Church 
of  England,  it  mull  confequently,  (to  fay  nothing 
of  a  particular  Care  which  will  probably  be  exten- 
ded to  them,  when  Bifhops  Ihall  be  fettled)  have  a 
general  good  Effedl  upon  more  than  half  a  Million 
of  poor  Creatures,  Sharers  with  us  of  the  fame 
common  Nature — fent  into  the  World  as  Proba- 
tioners and  Candidates  for  the  fame  glorious  Im- 
mortality— whom  Chrifl  equally  purchafed  by  his 
precious  blood-lhedding — who  notwithilanding,  as 
they  are  bred  up  in  Ignorance  and  Darknefs,  are 
fuffered,  to  the  eternal  Difgrace  of  their  Owners, 
to  walk  on  "  in  the  Shadow  of  Death,"  without  a 
Ray  of  rational  religious  Hope  to  chear  them. 

This  Confideration  mull  make  a  deep  Imprcf- 
fion  upon  the  Minds  of  all  ferious  Chriilians,  and 
lead  them  to  encourage  and  help  forward  every 
Work,  which  has  any  probable  Appearance  of  pro- 
moting the  Spiritual  Interefls,  of  fo  many  of  thefe 
wretched  Outcafts  of  Humanity.  If  it  is  the  Duty 
of  Chriilians  to  communicate  "  the  glad  Tidings 
*'  of  Salvation"  to  Heathens  in  general ;  it  is  a 

I  Duty 


58  A  N    A  P  P  E  A  L 

Sect.  Duty  more  peculiarly  incumbent  upon  us,  to  ex-    ^ 
'        tend  the  Gofpel  to  fuch  of  them  as  are  under  our    i 
immediate  Government  and  Infpeftion,  and  wha 
wear  out,  under  the  hard  Yoke  of  Bondage,  their 
Strength  and  very  Lives  in  our  Service. 

Another  Argument  for  granting  an  American 
Epifcopate,  arifes  from  the  Obligations  of  Grati- 
tude ;  a  national  Senfe  of  which,  it  is  humbly  con- 
ceived, ought,  at  this  Time,  to  have  a  peculiar 
Efficacy  in  Favour  of  Religion  in  the  American 
Plantations*  By  a  fignal  Interpofition  of  Divine 
Providence,  the  Britifh  Arms  in  America  have 
triumphed  over  all  that  oppofed  them,  our  Colo- 
nies have  been  prodigioufly  extended,  and  our  new 
Acquifitions,  together  with  our  old  Settlements, 
have  been  fecured,  not  only  by  Treaty,  but  by  a 
total  Annihilation  of  that  Power  on  this  Continent, 
whereby  our  former  Safety  was  chiefly  endangered. 

Every  wife  Nation  fees  and  acknowledges  the 
Hand  of  God  in  the  Production  of  fuch  Events  5 
and  every  religious  Nation  will  endeavour  to  make 
fome  fuitable  Returns  to  him  for  fuch  extraordi- 
nary Favours.  And  what  Returns  are  proper  to 
be  made  in  fuch  Cafes,  one  Moment's  ferious  Re- 
fle6lion  will  clearly  difcover.  The  Circumftances 
of  Things  evidently  point  out  two  Duties  to  our 
Governors,  on  this  Occafion,  both  of  them  impor« 
tant  in  themfelves,  and  of  indifpenfible  Obligation : 
One  is,  the  farther  Security  and  Support  of  th«  true 
Religion  in  America,  in  thofe  Places  where  it  al- 
ready is  ;  and  the  other ^  the  Propagation  of  it  in^ 
thofe  Places,  to  which  it  has  not  hitherto  been  ex- 
tended. 

As  America  is  the  Region,  wherein  the  Divine 
Goodnefs  has  been  more  remarkably  difplayed,  in 

Favour 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  59 

Favour  of  the  Britifh  Nation  ;  fo,  America  is  evi-  Sect, 
dently  the  very  Ground,  on  which  fome  fuitable  ^  * 
Monument  of  religious  Gratitude  ought  to  be 
^redted.  This  fhould  be  of  fueh  a  Nature  as  to 
be  vifible  to  the  World,  and,  that  the  Honour  of 
the  Supreme  Ruler  of  Events  may  be  thereby  im- 
mediately promoted.  Now  as  the  Honour  of  God 
is  moft  diredly  promoted  by  public'  Worlhip — as 
that  Worfhip  muft  be  moft  acceptable  to  him, 
wherein  the  Praifes  and  Adorations  of  his  Creatures 
are  regularly  offered  him,  in  the  folemn  Offices  of 
the  pureft  and  beft  Religion — and  as  the  national 
Religion  muft  be  fuppofed  beft  to  anfwer  thefe 
Charaders,  in  the  national  Opinion  ;  it  neceflarily 
follows,  that  the  State  of  the  national  Religion 
here  has  a  Right,  on  this  Occafion,  to  the  peculiar 
Attention  and  Confideration  of  thofe,  who  are  in- 
trufted  with  the  Diredion  of  our  public  Affairs. 

What  then  does  the  prefent  State  of  this  Reli- 
gion in  America  require  to  be  done  ?  What  is  pof'- 
Jihle  to  be  done  for  its  Benefit  and  Advantage  \ 
Thefe  are  the  Queftions  that  muft  naturally  arife. 
And  every  one  that  profefTes  it,  every  Witnefs  of 
its  fuffering  Condition,  is  able  to  anfwer  : — The 
Church  of  England  in  America,  is  perifhing  for 
Want  of  common  NecefTaries.  She  has  long  been 
imploring  Relief,  under  fuch  Difeafes  as  muft  prove 
fatal  to  her,  if  much  longer  negleded.  She  there- 
fore earneftly  requefts,  and  fhe  only  requefts,  that 
proper  Remedies  may  be  provided  for  her  prefent 
Sufferings.  And  fhe  leaves  it,  with  all  due  Sub* 
milTion  to  the  Wifdom  of  her  SuperiorSj  whether 
any  Thing  farther  is  proper  to  be  done,  to 
ftrengthen  and  improve  her  Interefts.  She  wifhe* 
for  nothing,  which  fhall  be  thought  inconfiftent 
with  the  Rights  and  Safety  of  gth^rs.    She  alks 

?iothing3 


6o  AN    APPEAL 

Sect,  nothing,  but  what  has  been   granted  to  others, 

^  •    without  any  ill  Confequences ;  and  fhe  relies  on 

the  common  Affedion  and  Juftice  of  the  Nation, 

to  raife  her  to  this  Equality.     And,  whether  there 

^  is  any  Thing  prefumptuous   or  unreafonable  in 

thefe  Expedations,  let  Heaven  and  Earth  judge  ! 


SECT, 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  6x 


SECTION    VIL 

ne  Cafe  of  the  American  Heathens  particularly  con- 
Jidered^  and  fhewn  to  require  an  Epifcopate. 

BUT  befides  taking  proper  Care  of  the  true  Sect, 
Religion  where  it  already  is,  the  Providence  VIL 
6f  God  calls  loudly  upon  the  Nation,  to  profecute 
fuch  Meafures  as  may  be  moft  effectual,  for  the 
Propagation  of  it  amongfl:  thofe  Nations  on  our 
Borders,  which  ftill  fit  "  in  Darknefs  and  the  Sha- 
*'  dow  of  Death" — or,  at  the  very  leaft,  to  afford 
thofe  who  are  engaged  in,  or  defirous  to  undertake 
the  Propagation  of  it,  all  due  Encouragement, 
And  in  this  View,  an  American  Epifcopate  will 
be  found  to  be  nccefiaryc 

Nothing  can  be  plainer,  even  from  the  common 
Principles  of  Humanity  and  Benevolence,  if  we 
have  no  Regard  to  the  facred  Injunftions  of  our 
holy  Religion,  than  that  it  is  the  Duty  of  thofe 
whom  "  the  Day-Spring  from  on  high  hath  vi- 
*'  fited,"  to  communicate  this  Light  to  others,  and 
as  they  have  Opportunity,  "  to  give  the  Knowledge 
*'  of  Salvation"  to  thofe  that  are  without  it,  "  for 
*'  the  Remiflion  of  their  Sins" — This  is  the  indif- 
penfible  Duty  of  every  private  Chriftian,  and  it  i.§ 
a  Duty  ftill  more  ftrongly  incumbent  upon  every 
Chriftian  Nation ;  as  the  Means  of  fuch  a  Com- 
munication are  more  in  the  Power  of  a  Nation, 
than  of  private  Chriftians. 

The  Situation  and  Circuraftances  of  fome  Na- 
tions are  more  favourable  than  thofe  of  others,  for 

Attempt* 


62  ANAPPEAL 

$£CT.  Attempts  of  this  Nature.  The  fairefb  Opportune 
*'^  ties  are  commonly  in  the  Hands  of  trading  Nations, 
like  ours  •,  to  which  Commerce  opens  a  free  Inter^ 
coiirfe  with  the  unenlightened  Parts  of  the  Earth 
— and,  when  condudled  fairly  and  properly,  it  is 
attended  with  luch  fenfible  prefent  Advantages, 
that  farther  Propofals  for  their  fpiritual  Benefit, 
will  probably  be  received,  with  lefs  Prejudice,  as 
coming  from  the  Hands  of  their  Benefactors. 

When  the  Englifh  Nation  firfl  propofed  to  efla- 
blifh  Settlements  in  America,  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gofcel  amonc?  the  native  Inhabitants  was  al- 
ways  mentioned  as  a  principal  Part  of  the  Plan. 
Queen  Elizabeth^  in  whofe  Reign  thefe  Settlements 
were  projeded,  confidered  the  Opportunity  they 
would  furniih  for  the  Advancement  of  Chriftianity, 
as  a  ilrong  Motive  for  carrying  the  general  Scheme 
into  Execution.  "  The  firft  Letters  Patent  gran- 
ted by  her  Succelior,  to  eftablifh  a  Company  for 
improvmg  the  Trade  and  Plantations  in  Virginia^ 
April  loth,  1606,  exprefsly  enjoined  the  Propaga- 
tion  of  the  Chriftian  Faith^  as  the  End  principally 
intended.  Another  Patent  in  the  fame  Year,  gran- 
ting two  Colonies  to  Sir  'Thomas  Gates^  Sir  George 
Summers'^  Knights  •,  Richard  Hackluit^  Clerk,  Pre- 
bendery  of  Wellminfber,  &c.  dire6ls  it  to  the  Fur- 
therance of  fo  noble  a  Work,  which  may  by  the 
Providence  of  Almighty  God,  hereafter  tend  to  the 
Glory  of  his  Divine  Majelly,  in  propagating  the 
Chriilian  Religion  to  fuch  People  as  yet  live  in 
Darknefs,  and  miferable  Ignorance  of  the  true 
Knowledge  and  Worlhip  of  God*." 

Hov/  this  original  Plan  came  to  be  altered,  and 
fo  efiential  a  Part  of  it  as  the  Converfion  of  the 

American 

T--       •      ,-  1 1  I  I    llUT    -|~ 

*  Dr,  Kenncfs  anruverfary  Senno»>  Page  31,  Note  (b)^ 


ViL 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  63 

American  Heathens,  to  be  afterwards  omitted,  Sect. 
would  require  more  Time  to  explain,  than  the  in- 
tended Brevity  of  this  Publication  will  admit  of. 
That  it  has  been  altogether  laid  afide  as  a  national 
Defign,  is  too  evident  to  be  difputed.  And  yet  as 
the  Nation  has  not  rejedled  the  Chriflian  Religion, 
but  profeffes  to  be  governed  by  it,  and  to  eileem 
the  Light  of  the  Gofpel  as  an  invaluable  BlefTmg, 
may  it  not  be  hoped  that  they  may  flill  be  per- 
fuaded  to  refume  the  Plan  ?  Are  there  no  Sparks 
of  Chriilian  Compaflion  remaining,  to  warm  the 
Breafts  of  our  national  Rulers,  in  Favour  of  in- 
numerable Tribes  of  our  Fellow-Creatures,  origi-* 
nally  "  made  of  one  Blood"  with  us — with  v/hom 
we  are  farther  connected  by  Pofition  and  political 
Ties — and  who  are  ftill  "  Strangers  from  the  Co- 
*'  venants  of  Promife,  having  no  Hope,  and  with- 
*'  out  God  in  the  World  ?*'  May  it  not  be  reafon- 
ably  expedled,  that  fome  generous  Efforts  will  be 
made,  to  furnilli  them  with  the  Means  of  rational 
and  eternal  Happinefs,  of  which  moil  of  them  con- 
tinue to  be  intirely  deflitute  ?  Efpecially,  may  it 
not  be  expeded,  under  the  peculiar  Advantages 
which  the  prefent  Seafon  affords  ? 

The  Providence  of  God,  as  has  been  obferved, 
points  out  this  general  Duty,  by  the  late  Events, 
more  plainly  and  exprefsly  than  ever.  We  never 
had,  until  this  Time,  fo  favourable  an  Opportu- 
nity for  carrying  forward  this  bleffed  Work.  W^e 
never  had  it  fo  much  in  our  Power  •,  and  our  Ob- 
ligations of  Gratitude  were  never  fo  ftrong.  A  ne- 
eeffary  Dependance  of  the  Natives  upon  us,  is  now 
cftablifhed  -,  as  they  can  have  Recourfe  to  no  other 
European  Nation,  without  the  utmoft  Difficulty, 
for  the  Supply  of  their  Neceffities.  The  Britifh 
Standard  is  now  ereded  in  the  Heart  of  their 

Country; 


64  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  Country ;  and  a  friendly  Communication  is  opened 
^^'  with  many  Tribes  and  Nations,  whofe  Names  were 
unknown  to  us  until  very  lately.  The  Influence  of* 
yefuits  and  French  Miffionaries  ceafes  to  operate  in 
thofe  Regions,  where  formerly  every  Attempt  made 
by  a  Proteftant  Nation  to  propagate  the  Gofpel, 
was  fure  of  being  counteracted  as  efFedlually  as  pof- 
fible.  In  a  Word,  their  Situation  is  now  fuch,  that 
no  Opportunity  or  Chance  remains  for  their  ever 
hearing  fo  much  as  the  Name  of  Chrift,  if  they  do 
not  hear  it  from  us. 

What  Influence  thefe  Confiderations  may  have 
upon  our  Politicians^  one  who  is  no  Politician  will 
not  undertake  to  determine.  But  certainly  they 
mufl:  deeply  affed  the  Minds  of  all  ferious  Chri- 
llians,  and,  one  would  think,  of  rational  and  con- 
fiflient  Deifl:s,  who  profefs  a  Regard  for  natural 
Religion — the  great  Dodrines  and  Duties  of  which, 
are  generally  corrupted  and  violated  by  the  Ame- 
rican Heathens,  and  will  be  mofl:  eflredually  refl:o- 
red  and  fecured  by  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel. 

After  all,  it  may  deferve  to  be  confidered,  Whe- 
ther, on  the  Principles  of  meer  worldly  Policy, 
fome  Pains  and  Expence  prudently  beflov/ed  to- 
wards the  Converflon  of  thefe  Savages,  would  not 
turn  to  our  Account  ?  The  nearer  they  are  brought, 
in  their  Principles  and  Morals,  to  the  Chrifliian 
Syfl;em,  the  more  they  will  refemble  Chrifl:ians  in 
their  Way  of  Life.  The  Principles  of  the  Gofpel, 
and  the  Manners  of  Savages,  cannot  conflfl;  with 
each  other,  for  any  confiderable  Time.  The  more 
they  improve  in  Civil  Life,  the  more  ufcful'they 
will  be  to  us  in  the  Way  of  Commerce — and  the 
lefs  we  fhall  have  to  fear  from  their  barbarous 
Cruelties,  on  any  Occafion.  "  Nor  Ihould  it  be  for- 
*'  gotten;,  that  every  fingle  Indian,  whom  we  make 

"  a  Chri- 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  6^ 

«  a  Chriftian,  we  make  a  Friend  and  Ally,  at  the  Sect; 
*'  fame  Time." 

But  while  tlie  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel  amongfl 
the  American  Heathens  has  been  altogether  ne- 
gledled,  as  a  national  Concern,  many  private  Per- 
fons,  whofe  eminent  Abilities  have  been  an  Honour 
to  the  Nation— whofe  viniverfal  Benevolence  has 
been  as  confpicuoub  as  their  Abilities — and  whofe 
Adtivity  has  been  equal  to  their  Benevolence — 
have  not  negledled  to  exert  themfelves,  in  Behalf 
of  the  general  Intereils  of  Chriftianity.  Can  any 
Englifhman,  even  at  this  Day,  hear  the  Name  of 
Boyle  mentioned,  without  a  very  fenfible  Emotion 
of  Pleafure  ?  This  truly  honourable  and  illuftrious 
Perfon,  amidfl  his  unwearied  Application  for  the 
Improvement  of  religious  and  ufeful  Knowledge  at 
Hom.e,  found  much  Time  and  large  Sums  to  be- 
fiow,  for  the  Propagation  of  Chriftian  Knowledge, 
in  different  remote  Farts  of  the  Earth,  and  parti- 
cularly amongft  the  Natives  of  America. 

ne  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel^  al- 
though, notwithftanding  they  have  been  abufed  in 
this  Country  by  m.any  petulant  Tongues,  and  fome 
petulant  Pens,  on  this  Account,  the  Converfion  of 
Heathens  was  not  their  primary  and  original  Ob- 
jedt  (for  if  we  read  the  Hiftory  of  its  Rife,  or  exa- 
mine its  Charter,  which  recites  a  particular  Cafe 
only,  and  makes  Provifion  for  it,  and  may  judge 
from  thence,  we  fnallfind  it  as  evident  as  Language 
can  make  it,  that  the  Support  and  Propagation  of 
the  Gofpel  amongft  our  own  People  in  America, 
was  the  immediate  and  principal  Defign  of  their 
Incorporation;)  I  fay,  this  worthy  Society,  have 
moft  afliduoufly  and  vigoroufly  attem.pted,  fo  far 
as  their  m.ore  immediate  Duty  would  admit  of  it, 

K  th^ 


66  A  N     A  P  P  E  A  L 

Sect,  the  Converfion  of  the  IndiaPxS  in  the  neighbour- 
hood  of  our  Settlements. 

It  may  feem  flrange,  to  flich  as  judge  of  their 
Defign  by  miftaking  their  Title ^  and  are  acquain- 
ted with  the  large  Sums  *  they  have  annually  ex- 
pended in  America  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gofpel,  that  their  Progrefs  in  the  Converfion  of 
Heathens  has  been  fo  fmall.  But  when  it  comes 
to  be  coniidered,  that  their  Eenefa61:ors  have  en- 
trufted  them  with  their  Donations,  chiefly  for  other 
Purpofes — and,  that  their  Funds  have  never  been 
fufficient,  to  anfv/er  the  Occafions  that  have  arifen 
in  their  more  immediate  Department — it  is  rather 
to  be  wondered,  that  they  have  been  able  to  make 
any  Attempts  at  all  of  this  Natu.e,  than  that  they 

have 

*  It  has  been  given  out,  from  Year  to  Year,  by  the  Publiihers 
o?  the  Court  Kalendar,  that  the  annual  Expence  of  this  Society  is 
about  One  Thoufand  Five  Kundred  Pounds-  It  is  aftonifhing  that 
fo  grofs  a  Miitake  fnould  be  once  made — more  (oy  that  it  fhould 
continue  to  be  io  often  repeated — and  moft  of  all,  that  it  fliould  be 
adopted  by  Writers,  from  whofe  Accuracy  better  Things  might 
be  expected — efpecially,  as  the  Society  never  fails  to  publifli  yearly 
an  exa6t  Account  of  their  Expences,  and  even  to  expreis  the  Par- 
ticulars. This  Mifreprefentation  may  pofTibly  have  been  owing  to 
jio  unfriendly  Intentions  5  but  yet,  as  it  may  be  fuppofed  to  cii-- 
culate  widely,  it  muft  naturally  have  a  bad  Effect  upon  the  Society, 
by  preventing  Benefa6lions.  For  fome  who  beftow  Nothing,  on 
the  Suppofition  that  the  Society's  annual  Expence  is  but  One 
Thoufand  Five  Hundred  Pounds,  would,  in  all  Probability,  give 
liberallyrif  they  knew  it  amounted  to  near  Five  Thoufand  Pounds., 
which  is  really  the  Cafe. 

The  Society  was  incorporated  in  1701.  In  Ten  Years  Time 
their  Expences  arofe  to  One  Thoufand  Eight  Hundred  and  Forty- 
lix  Pounds,  Ten  Shillings,  and  One  Penny,  per  Annum  \  a  Sum 
confiderably  larger  than  the  above  mentioned  Compilers  have  af- 
ligned,  even  for  the  prefent  Year.  Their  Expences  have  been 
gradually  increafing,  from  their  firlt  Inllitution  to  the  prefent 
Time.  In  1740  their  Expence  was  Three  Thoufand  Four  Hun- 
dred and  Forty  Pounds;  and  in  1765  they  expended  Four  Thou- 
fand Seven  Hundred  and  Eighty  Pounds,  Five  Shillings,  ar.d  Three 
Pence — of  which  Sum  Four  Thoufand  One  Hundred  and  Foity- 
four  Pounds,  Five  Shillings,  and  Three  Pence,  was  paid  in  Salaries 
to  Mifllonaries,  Catechifts,  &c.  and  the  Remainder  was  laid  one 
in  Books,  Gratuities  to  Miffionaries,  and  in  defraying  other  inci- 
dental Charges. 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  67 

have  done  fo  little.  And  yet  they  have  always  em-  S^^"^- 
ployed  fome  Perfon  in  this  Service ;  and  I  believe 
it  may  be  truly  faid,  that  they  have  never  negle6led 
any  fair  Opening  to  introduce  the  Gofpel  amongfl 
the  American  Heathens,  efpecially  if  proper  Per- 
fons  could  be  found,  to  engage  in  fuch  a  Miflion. 
But  they  can  force  none  into  this  Service,  which 
heretofore  has  been  attended  with  great  Danger,  as 
well  as  Fatigue :  they  can  only  offer  fuch  Salaries 
and  Rewards  by  Way  of  Inducement,  as  they  have 
Abilities  to  offer.  However,  they  have  not  been 
altogether  unfuccefsful  in  their  Attempts.  Several 
Hundreds,  by  Means  of  the  Society,  have  been 
converted  from  Heathenifm  to  the  Chriftian  Faith, 
among  whom  fome  have  been  Ornaments  to  their 
new  Profeffion,  and  an  inflruclive  Example  to  thofe 
who  have  had  better  Advantages.  Yet  ilill  it  mull 
be  confeffed,  that  the  Succefs  has  not  been  pro- 
portionable to  the  Pains  that  have  been  taken ;  and 
from  the  repeated  Trials  that  have  been  made,  as 
well  as  from  other  Evidence,  it  appears,  that  there 
muff  be  fome  more  effe6lual  Way  for  the  Conver- 
fion  of  Savages,  than  has  been  yet  taken. 

As  it  was  always  known,  that  the  living  like 
Chriffians  with  Refpedl  to  Religion,  and  like  Sa- 
vages with  Refped  to  civil  Life,  could  not  be  re- 
conciled in  the  fame  Perfons  ♦,  it  was  hoped  that 
the  Converfion  of  Indians  to  the  Chriftian  Religion, 
would  naturally  introduce  amongft  them  Civility  of 
Manners — and  this  was  reckoned  among  the  Ad-  ^ 
vantages  to  be  expeded  from  converting  them. 
But  it  feems  now  to  be  generally  agreed,  that  what 
was  propofed  as  a  Corifequence^  ought  to  be  confi- 
dered  as  a  necejfary  Means ^  of  fp reading  the  Gof- 
pel amongft  lavage  Nations. 

The 


68  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  fhe  Religion  of  the  Gofpel  was  intended  for 
^^^'  Men  and  reafonable  Creatures,  and  not  for  Brutes, 
akhough  in  the  Shape  of  Men.  Until  thefe 
Wretches  therefore  are,  in  fome  Degree,  humani- 
zed, there  can  be  but  little  Profped  of  making 
them  Chriftians,  to  any  lafling  and  valuable  Pur- 
pofe.  The  Society^  for  a  long  Time,  feem  to  have 
been  growing  fenfible  of  this  ;  but  as  another  Me- 
thod had  been  undertaken,  it  was  proper  that  a 
full  Trial  ihould  be  made  of  it. 

The  venerable  Dr.  Bray^  who  has  not  impro- 
perly been  filled  the  Father  of  the  Society^  and  •  han 
whom,  no  Man  ever  more  carefully  confidered 
Sub) eels  of  this  Nature,  and  but  few  have  had  bet- 
ter Opportunities  of  informing  themfelves,  was 
latterly  of  this  Opinion.  In  his  Memorial  relating 
to  the  Converficn  of  the  Aracrican  hidians^  .  addreiTed 
to  the  then  CommifTaries  of  Maryland^  and  the 
Reit  of  the  Clergy,  he  has  the  following  Para- 
graph. 

"  You  mufl  earnefdy  endeavour  to  bring  them 
"  off  from  a  wandering  and  idle  Life,  to  a  fettled 
•"^  and  induftrious  Way  of  living  •,  it  being  impof- 
"  fible  to  conceive  how  any  religious  Impreflions 
"  and  Inftructions  Ihould  be  given  them  to  any 
"  Purpofe,  or  remain  upon  them  in  their  wandering 
"  State.  Nor  was  it  ever  known  in  Fad,  that  Chri- 
*'  ftianity  did  thrive  among  a  rude  and  barbarous 
"  People,  continuing  in  an  unfettled  and  fiavage 
"  Way  of  living,  as  in  the  Nature  of  the  Thing, 
"  it  is  impoinble  that  it  ihould.  And  it  is  very 
"  remarkable,  that  as  our  BlelTed  M.ifler  came 
"  into  the  World  when  it  had  become  moil  aVi- 
"  lized\  and  where  it  was  fo,  in  a  few  Ages,  Chri- 
"  ilianity  overfpread  the  civilized  Part  of  it:  lb 
.    "  iipon  the  Inundation  of  wikl  and  barbarous  Na- 

"  tions 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  69 

tions  into  the  Roman  Empire,  true  Chriftianity  Sect. 
d-d  fenfibly  decline  •,  and  Satan,  by  his  Deputy  ^^^' 
or  Vicegerent  Anti-Chrifi^  regained  his  Domi- 
nion over  the  greateft  Part  of  Chnftendom,  both 
in  the  Rafter  n  and  Weft  em  Parts  of  the  Empire." 
Dr.  Stebbing^  2i  Perfon  of  diilingiiifhed  Abilities 
and  Penetration,  and  a  Member  of  the  Society,  in 
his  anniverfary  Sermon,  delivers  the  fame  Senti- 
ments. "  Of  a  general  Converfion  of  the  native 
"  Indians,  (fays  he)  I  fee  no  great  Likelihood  at 
"  prefent.  If  this  is  to  be  done  by  human  Means, 
"  there  muft  be  the  necefTary  Preparations  for 
"  human  M^ans  to  operate.  They  muft  be  poli- 
"  fhed  into  good  Manners — there  muft  be  lome 
*'  common  Intercourfe  between  us— v/e  muft  brino- 
"^^  them  to  fome  good  Liking  of  our  Laws  and 
^'  Cuftoms.  All  this  is  necejjary^  where  the  Power 
f'  of  Miracles  is  wanting  ♦,  and  when^  and  whet  er 
f'  ever^  it  will  be  done,  God  only  knows."  One 
of  the  grand  Obftacles  the  Dcdor  complained  of, 
is  now  happily  removed ;  the  others  will  always 
continue,  until  we  heartily  engage  in  the  Removal 
of  them.  I  might  avail  myfelf  of  the  Names  of 
more  ijluftrious  Perfons  now  Living;  but  farther 
Authorities  are  needlefs  in  fo  plain  a  Cafe. 

It  having  then  become  a  fettled  Point,  that  the  / 

moft  proper  Way  for  converting  Savages,  is  pre- 
vioufly  to  inftrud  them  in  the  Arts  and  Manners 
of  civil  Life,  the  Society  has  been,  for  a  confide- 
rable  Time,  carefu  ly  employed  in  colledling  fuch 
Information  and  Intelligence,  relating  to  this  Sub- 
je6t,  as  may  enable  them  to  form  a  proper  Plan  for 
civilizing  the  Natives  of  America,  in  Order  to 
their  becoming  Chriftians — in  which  great  and  good 
Work,  they  cannot  doubt  of  meeting  widi  all 
needful  Encouragement,    for  this  Purpofe  many 

Pe^^o^5 


yo  AN     APPEAL 

^Vir^*  ^^^"^^^^  '^^  America  have  been  particularly  conful- 
ted,  both  Miffionaries  and  others  •,  and  the  ReRilt 
already  is,  that  they  have  con^e  to  a  general  Deter-^ 
mination  to  ere6l  Schools,  for  teaching  the  Indian 
Children  the  Elements  of  Agriculture,  and  the  moil 
necelTary  mechanic  Arts,  together  with  civilized 
Manners — to  be  followed  by  proper  Inilrudion  in 
the  Chriftian  Religion  *.  They  have  entered  into 
Refolutions  for  carrying  into  Execution  a  Scheme 
cf  this  Nature,  as  foon  as  proper  Places  can  be 
fixed  for  the  Ere6t:ion  of  fuch  Schools,  and  proper 
Perfons  be  found  to  eno^acre  in  the  Service — truftmo; 
m  that  good  Providence  to  afTift  them  in  this  Un- 
dertaking, v/hich  has  fo  wonderfully  fupported 
them  in  the  Profecution  of  their  original  Work. 

But  here  a  Number  of  DifRculties  arife  to  retard 
their  Progrefs.  A  Variety  of  Plans  and  Propofals 
have  been  tranfm.itted  from  this  Country.  The 
Perfons  who  have  been  confuked,  have  their  par- 
ticular Prejudices  and  Attachments.  The  Thmgs 
and  Places  which  one  reprefents  as  expedient,  are 
condemned  by  another.  And  this  muft  of  Ne- 
ceflity  happen,  where  fo  many  Perfons,  uncon- 
nected together,  and  without  Opportunities  of  con- 
fulting  one  another,  are  called  upon  to  give  their 
Opinion  of  a  Cafe,  like  this,  whereof  moft  of  them 
muii:  be  fuppofed  to  have  but  a  partial  Knowledge, 

To  ballance  and  adjuil  fo  many  different  Opi- 
nions and  Reprefentations,  mufl  be  the  Work  of 
much  Time  and  Care,  and  will  of  Courfe  greatly 
retard  the  Execution  of  the  general  Plan.  For  one 
falfe  Step  taken  in  the  Beginning,  may  in  Time 
produce  Confeqiiences  that  are  pernicious  and  fatal. 

But 

*■  A  School  on  much  the  fame  Plan  has  been  eftablifhed  for  fome 
Years  in  Covtre^kut,  under  tlie  Dire6lion  of  the  worthy  Mr,  Wbee- 
lock  ;  and  its  Beginnings  are  not  unpromifing. 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  71 

Butthefe  Difficulties  would  vanifh  in  a  great  Mea-  ^^ct. 
fure,  under  an  American  Epifcopate.  Suitable  ^^^' 
Places  for  the  Ercdtion  of  Indian  Schools,  might  be 
fpeediiy  afcertained — proper  Perfons  to  be  intrufted 
with  the  immediate  Care  of  them,  might  be  found 
out  and  appointed — and  when  actually  employed, 
the  general  Diredbion  and  Superintendency  of  a 
Bifhop  refiding  near  them,  would  not  only  give 
Spirit  to  the  Work,  but  would  moreover  be  necef- 
fary  to  unite  lo  many  Perfons,  in  different  Parts  of 
the  Country,  who  are  independent  of  each  other^ 
and  to  make  them  regular  and  uniform  in  their 
Endeavours  to  promote  the  fam.e  general.  Defign. 

In  a  Syftem  of  this  Kind,  w^here  a  Ntimber  of 
Powers  and  Movements  arc  to  be  employed  to 
one  common  Purpofe,  a  regular  and  confiilent 
Diredlion  of  them  is  as  requifrce,  as  of  the  diffe- 
rent mechanical  Powers,  in  a  Watch  or  a  Clock. 
And  the  nearer  the  fuperintending  Influence  is,  the 
better  -,  for  when  it  is  prefent,  if  irregularities  arife, 
they  are  foon  corrected,  and  are  never  fuffered  iono- 
to  continue.  In  other  Cafes,  where  a  Number  of 
Perfons  arc  employed  in  one  general  Work,  a  com- 
mon uniform!  Diredion  is  allowed  to  be  neceffary  •, 
and  why  this  particular  Cafe  fnould  be  an  Excep- 
tion, will  not  be  eafy  to  Hiew. 

The  Neceffity  of  one  comm.on  Dire6tion  in  the 
Cafe  before  us,  v/ill  probably  be  granted ;  but  per- 
haps fome  may  thmk  it  may  as  w^ll  be  carried  on 
without  an  Epifcopate.  This  is  a  Point  which  de- 
ferves  fome  Examination.  Although  the  general 
Diredion  of  fuch  a  Work  mull  belong  to  ths  So- 
ciety at  Home,  fo  long  as  it  is  carried  on  at  the 
Expence  of  the  Society ;  yet  it  will  be  highly  re- 
quifite  that  a  Superintendent  in  this  Country  ihould 
overfee  the  Whole,  wdth  a  Power  to  regulate  the 

Behaviour 


72  ANAPPEAL 

J^ECT.  Behaviour  of  all  that  are  immediately  employed  in 
*^'    it,  to  hear  Complaints,  to  redrels  Grievances,  and 
to  corre6t  Abufes ;    to  whcm   Application    m.ay 
eafily  be  made  on  all  Emergencies. 

Nov/  the  Qiieftion  is.  Whether  a  Bifhop  would 
not  be  a  more  proper  Perfon  to  be  entrufted  with 
this  Superintendency,  than  any  other  ?  And  if  we 
confider  that  the  great  End  in  View,  is  the  Ad- 
vancement and  Propagation  of  the  Chriftian  Reli- 
gion— and  that  many  Clergymen  as  well  as  others 
mull  be  employed  in  the  Service,  there  miufl  evi- 
dently appear  to  be  a  peculiar  Propriety  in  carrying 
on  this  Work,  under  the  Direction  of  a  Bifhop. 
Who  can  be  fo  proper  to  conducfh  a  Plan  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gofpel,  as  one  of  that  Order, 
to  whom  the  Charge  of  the  Gofpel  was  prin- 
cipally committed,  and  to  whom  a  Blefling  was 
exprefsly  promifed,  in  their  Endeavours  to  pro- 
mote it  ^  Who  fo  proper  to  govern  Clergymen,  as 
thcfe  to  v/hom  the  Government  of  them,  together 
with  that  of  the  whole  Church,  was  particularly  in- 
truded by  its  Divine  Founder  ?  — 

If  fome  of  the  Ends  of  this  Superintendency 
might  as  well  be  anfwered,  by  putting  it  into  Lay- 
Hands,  yet  others  manifeflly  cannot.  There  mufb 
be  frequent  Occafions  for  the  Exercife  of  thofe 
fpiritual  Powers,  which  are  peculiar  to  the  Epifco- 
pal  Office ;  and  it  will  be  of  great  Confequence  to 
the  Succefs  of  the  Work,  whether  Recourfe  may 
be  had  to  a  Bifhop  in  fuch  Cafes  eafily  and  fpeediiy, 
or  whether  the  Application  muil  be  made  to  one, 
at  the  Dillance  of  more  than  a  Thoufand  Leagues. 

It  fhould  alfo  be  confidered,  that  fuch  a  Station 
mufl  neceifarily  require  fome  Perfon  of  eminent 
Abilities  and  Influence,  to  fill  it  properly.     And 


although 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  73 

although  many  fiich,  at  this  Time,  are  to  be  found  ^^^7' 
amongiL  the  Laity  -,  yet,  where  fhall  we  find  one 
thus  qualified,  who  is  not  too  deeply  engaged  in 
Affairs  of  another  Nature,  to  devote  himfelf  to  this 
in  fuch  a  Degree  as  will  be  neceffary  ?  If  fuch  a  one 
fliould  be  fent  from  Home  for  this  Purpofe,  he 
muft  be  fupported  agreeably  to  his  Rank  and  Cha- 
rafter,  the  Expence  of  which  the  Society  can  by  no 
Means  afford.  Whereas  if  there  was  a  Bifhop  in 
America,  this  would  be  confidered  as  Part  of  his- 
Office  ;  v/hich  he  would  therefore  freely  execute^ 
without  any  Addition  to  the  neceffary  Charges, 
Thofe  Perfons  in  this  Country,  who  may  be  thought 
bcil  qualified  for  fuch  a  Trull,  I  believe,  are  fully 
employed  in  other  Matters  already,  and  cannot  be 
expedled  to  relinquifh  them  and  engage  in  this, 
without  a  handfome  Support. 

Sir  JVilliam  Johnfon^  who,  by  his  long  Expe- 
rience in,  and  careful  At'ention  to,  Indian  Affairs, 
is  probably  befc  qualified  for  this  Direction,  and  is 
undoubtedly  the  beft  Judge  of  thefe  Matters  in 
America,  has,  on  this  Occaiion,  been  particularly 
confalted  by  the  Society^  whereof  he  is  a  Member, 
and  by  fome  in  this  Counrry.  The  Opinion  of 
the  Matter,  which  mufl  alv/ays  carry  the  greateft 
"Weight,  is,  that  an  American  Epifcopate  will 
greatly  facilitate  the  Converfion  of  the  Indians, 
upon  any  Plan  that  fhall  be  followed.  He  declares 
his  Readinefs  to  aififl:  and  co-operate  with  a  Bifhop 
in  fo  good  a  Work,  but  fays  nothing  of  under- 
taking it  as  Principal,  as  the  political  Superinten- 
dency  of  Indian  Affairs,  with  which  he  is  inveffed 
by  the  Government,  already  affords  him  fufncient 
Employment. 

What  then  remains  to  be  done  .^  Shall  the  Society^ 
at  an  Expence  which  will  in  a  great  Meafure  dif- 

L  enable 


74  ANAPPEAL 

^^^^'  enable  them  to  purfue  their  Plan,  be  obliged  to 
fupport  a  Lay-Superintendent,  who,  at  the  fame 
Time,  will  be  unable  to  anfwer  all  the  Purpofes 
of  fuch  an  Office  ?  Or,  will  an  Opportunity  be 
granted  them,  of  putting  the  Management  of  this 
important  Affair  into  the  Hands  of  an  American 
Bifhop — who  can  more  properly  and  effectually 
execute  the  Office,  and  without  any  additional  Ex- 
pence  ?  If  a  Chriilian  Nation  does  not  think  fit  to 
undertake  this  Work  immediately^  a  Work  which 
will  probably  be  attended  with  many  political  Ad- 
vantages; yet  furely  it  cannot  refufe  to  give  all 
due  Countenance  and  needful  Encouragement,  to 
fuch  benevolent  Chriftians  and  worthy  Patriots,  as 
are  willing  and  defirous  to  undertake  it — efpecially 
when  this  can  be  done,  without  burthening  the 
Public. 


SECT. 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  7^ 


SECTION    VIII. 

The  Plan  on  which  alone  American  Bijhops  have  been 
requefted,  fairly  ftated^  with  Expfiulations  on  the 
Reafonablenefs  thereof, 

THE  I>rign.  of  what  has  been  ofFered  in  the  Sect 
foregoing  Sedion,  is  to  fhew^That  the  Pro-  VIIL 
pagation  of  the  Gofpel  amongfl  thofe  who  are 
Strangers  to  it,  is  a  Duty  incumbent  upon  every 
Chriftian  Nation,  as  they  have  Opportunity:— 
That  the  Englifli  Nation  in  particular  has,  at  this 
Time,  a  much  better  Opportunity,  for  convertino- 
to  the  Chriftian  Faith  the  Heathen  Nations  on  th? 
Borders  of  our  Settlements,  than  has  heretofore 
offered^  and  that  the  Obligations  of  Gratitude  to 
perforrfi  this  Duty  are  ftronger,  and  the  Providence 
of  God  points  it  out  more  plainly,  than  even- 
That  the  commercial  and  political  Advantages  to 
beexpededfrom  fuch  a  Converfion,  if  it  can  be 
etteded,  are  a  ftrong  Argument  for  attempting  it, 
on  the  meer  Principles  of  worldly  Policy  :— That 
the  true  Method  to  be  taken  for  the  Converfion  of 
Savages,  is  by  previoufly  teaching  them  the  Arts 
and  Manners  of  civil  Life,  in  order  to  which,  pro- 
per Schools  in  different  Parts  of  the  Country  are 
neceifary  :— That  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gofpel,  not  waiting  to  fee  what  the  Nation  will 
attempt,  have,  on  thefe  Principles,  formed  a  gene- 
ral Plan  for  the  Eredion  of  Indian  Schools,  with  a 
Defign  to  put  it  in  Execution,  as  foon,  and  as  ex- 
tenfively,  as  poffible  :— And  that  in  Order  thereto 
\t  15  reafonable  to  think,  that  an  American  Epifco- 

pate 


76  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  pate  v/iU  be  mofl  eminently  iifeful,  and  indeed 
^'^^^-  that  the  Work  cannot  be  properly  conduced  with- 
out it.  From  thefe  Confiderations  it  evidently  fol- 
lows, that  every  P'riend,  not  only  to  the  Church 
of  England,  but  to  Chriilianity  in  general,  ought 
mofl  earneflly  to  defire  the  Settlement  of  Bifhops 
in  America,  on  this  Jccomt,  and  to  ufe  his  Influ- 
ence for  obtaining  it. 

The  Reafons  which  have  been  offered  in  Favour 
of  an  American  Epifcopate,  appear  to  us  to  be  of 
that  real  Weight  and  Importance  as  to  deferve,  and 
we  humbly  hope  that  they  will  obtain,  the  Atten- 
tion of  our  Superiors  •,  and  if  they  are  duly  con- 
fidered,  we  are  unable  to  conceive  that  they  can  fail 
of  producing  the  defired  Effect,  under  fo  mild  and 
equal  a  Syftem  of  Government. 

The  Principles  of  Liberty,  Juftice  and  Benevo- 
Jence,  are  the  main  Pillars  that  fupport  the  fair 
Fabnck  ot  the  Britiih  Conilitution.  It^  is  the 
Glory  of  Britifh  Subjeds,  that  they  enjoy  as  much 
Happinefs  and  Freedom  as  is  confiilent  with  Go- 
vernment, and  infiniteiy  more  than  is  confiflent 
with  the  Want  of  Government— and  that  their  Li- 
berties are  fecured  by  I^av/s  that  have  been  made 
by,  and  cannot  be  fufpcnded  or  repealed  without 
the  Confent  of,  thofe  whom  they  have  chofen  ta 
a6l  as  their  Reprefentatives.  No  undue  Superio- 
rity over  fome  can  legally  be  claimed  by  others ; 
and  for  every  A6t  of  Injuflice  or  Oppreffion,  a 
iure  Remedy  is  provided.  Provifion  has  been 
carefully  made,  that  all  may  have  full  Enjoyment 
both  of  civil  and  rehgious  Liberty  •,  and  fo  free  and 
equitable  an  Execution  of  the  Powers  of  Govern- 
ment is  efiiabiiihed,  that  no  Body  of  Subjedts,  not 
an  Individual,  can  juftly  complain  of  any  Suffering 
or   Grievancej    without    Confidence   of  Redrefs. 

Such 


n 


TO     THE     PUBLIC. 

Such  is  the  happy  Tendency  of  our  Conflitution,  Sect 
and  we  truft  that  our  prefent  Rulers  have  a  Difpo-  Vlll 
fition  to  a6t,  in  all  Cafes,  agreeably  to  the  Genius 
and  Spirit  of  it. 

Will  not  then  the  Complaints  of  near  a  Million 
of  Britifh  Subjeds  in  America,  of  unimpeached 
Loyalty  and  Fidelity,  who  are  fuffering  under  the 
moft  unprecedented  Hardfhips  with  Regard  to 
their  Religion,  an  Intereft  dearer  than  Property 
and  more  invaluable  than  civil  Liberty,  be  re- 
garded, and  procure  the  Redrefs  of  fo  intolerable 
a  Grievance  ?  When  an  impartial  Tendernefs  and 
Care  for  the  religious  Rights  of  all,  is  the  profefled 
Principle  of  the  Adminiflration,  as  well  as  of  our 
Legiflature,  is  it  not  abfurd,  and  injurious,  and. 
ungrateful,  to  entertain  any  Sufpicions,  that  fo 
large  a  Number  of  Subjedis  will  be  treated  with  a 
cruel  Partiality  ? — of  fuch  Subjects  efpecially,  as 
have  ever  been  dutiful  and  faithful,  and  who  {land 
in  a  peculiar  Connexion  with,  and  Relation  to,  the 
national  Body  ?  Can  it  be  imagined  that  fo  grofs  a 
Partiality  againft  the  national  Religion,  may  ever 
be  juilly  imputed  to  the  Britifh  Nation,  as  no  other 
Nation  upon  Earth  was  ever  guilty  of?  For  no 
"  Nation  has  ever  treated  their  Gods,  which  are 
"  no  Gods,"  in  fuch  a  Manner,  as  this  Imputation 
would  charge  a  Chriftian  and  Proteftant  Nation 
with  treating  the  great  Sovereign  of  the  World. 

As  therefore  we  cannot  but  hope  that  the  Voice 
of  fo  many  Petitioners  will  be  heard,  and  that  fo 
reafonable  a  Requeft  will  be  granted  \  fo  we  cannot 
but  flatter  ourfelves  that  it  will  be  granted  fpeedily^ 
and  that  no  unnecefTary  Delays  will  prevent  its  good 
EfFeft.  The  Reafons  which  have  been  afligned 
for  granting  us  an  Epifcopate,  are  now  in  full 

Force, 


7^  ANAPPEAL 

%tll\  ?^^orcc    and  ftronger  than  ever ;  and  if  they  require 
It  at  all,  they  require  it  immediately. 

It  is  not  apprehended  that  any  Difficulties  can 
attend  the  Execution  of  this  Plan  at  the  prefent 
1  ime,  which  will  not  always  continue ;  and  fome 
peculiar  Motives  and  Advantages  now  concur  to 
tavour  It  which  probably  no  future  Period  will 
afford.  If  then  our  Application  fails  of  Succefs 
now,  we  fliall  defpair  of  it  hereafter ;  and-we 
want  Language  to  exprefs  the  ill  Confequences  we 
fear  from  luch  a  Difappointment. 

What  has  been  faid  implies  not  an  Opinion, 
that  there  are  at  this  Time  no  Difficulties  in  the 
Way,  but  only  that  there  are  no  Difficulties  but 
iuch  as  muft  be  always  expefted.  We  are  verv 
lenfible  that  a  Work  of  this  Nature  will  have  many 
to  oppole  It.  Some  will  oppofe  it  from  an  Enmity 
to  all  Religion.  Others  will  oppofe  it  from  an  En- 
mity, either  open  or  fecret,  to  the  Proteftant  Re- 
hgion  ;  of  which  the  Church  of  England  is  confef- 
ledly  the  Itrongeft  Barrier  againft  Popery.  There 
are  others  again  who  heretofore  have  oppofed  it 
trom  an  Apprehenfion,  that  either  the  Property  or 
religious  Liberty  of  their  Friends  might  be  affefted 
by  It ;  as  It  was  not  fo  well  known,  with  what 
Powers  and  with  what  Views  it  had  been  requefted 
that  Bilhops  might  be  fent  to  us.  But  this  has 
been  lo  often  and  explicitly  mentioned  of  late,  that 
4t  can  hardly  be  fuppoled,  that  any  Perfons  of 
Power  and  Influence  can  remain  ignorant  of  our 
true  Plan.  «?  «. 

However,  for  the  Sake  of  others,  and  of  fucfi 
as  miftake  it,  it  may  be  proper,  in  a  Work  of  this 
Nature,  to  make  the  following  Declaration  to  the 
PuDlic,  (and  I  appeal  to  every  Reader,  who  is  ac- 
quainted 


1 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  79 

quainted  with  the  Matter,  for  the  Truth  of  it)  that  Sect. 
it  has  been  long  fettled  by  our  Friends  and  Supe- 
riors at  Home,  and  the  Clergy  of  this  Country  have 
often  fignified  their  entire  Approbation  and  Ac- 
quiefcence  therein — That  the  Bijhops  to  he  fent  t9 
America^  jhall  have  no  Authority^  hut  purely  of  a 
Spiritual  and  Ecclejtaftical  Nature^  fuch  as  is  derived 
altogether  from  the  Church  and  not  from  the  State — 
That  this  Authority  fhall  operate  only  upon  the  Clergy 
cf  the  Churchy  and  not  upon  the  Laiety  nor  Dijfen- 
ters  of  any  Denomination — That  the  Bifhops  fhall  not 
interfere  with  the  Property  or  Privileges^  whether 
civil  or  religious^  of  Churchmen  or  Dijfenters — That, 
in  particular^  they  fhall  have  no  Concern  with  the 
Prohate  of  Wills^  Letters  of  Guardianfhip  and  Ad- 
minifiration^  or  Marriage-Licences^  nor  he  Judges  of 
any  Cafes  relating  thereto — But^  that  they  fhall  only 
exercife  the  original  Powers  of  their  Office  as  hefore 
fiated^  i.  e.  crdain  and  govern  the  Clergy^  and  admi- 
nijier  Confirmation  to  thofe  who  Jhall  defire  it. 

This,  without  any  Refervation  or  Equivocation, 
is  the  exad  Plan  of  an  American  Epifcopate  which 
has  been  fettled  at  Home  •,  and  it  is  the  only  one, 
on  which  Bifhops  have  been  requefted  here,  either 
in  our  general  or  more  particular  AddrefTes.  And 
fo  far  is  it  from  being  our  Defire  to  moleft  the 
Diflenters,  or  any  Denominations  of  Chriftians,  in 
the  Enjoyment  of  their  prefent  religious  Privileges, 
that  we  have  carefully  confulted  their  Safety  and 
Security,  and  ftudied  not  to  injure,  but  oblige 
them. 

Many  may  haav'e  received  different  Accounts  of 
our  Dcfigns,  and  of  our  Condud;  but  fuch  as  have 
not  proceeded  from  Ignorance,  muft  have  been  the 
Effed  of  Malicioufnefs.  When  Bifhops  were  firfl 
propofed  and  requefted  for  this  Country,  they  were 

mentioned 


8o  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  mentioned  under  the  Title  of  Suffragans.  This  is 
"^'  no  ambiguous  Term  ;  it  has  a  fixed  and  deter- 
minate Meaning  in  the  Laws  of  England,  and  can- 
not be  miilaken.  Suffragan  Bifnops  are  the  fame 
with  thofe  that  were  called  Chorepifcofi^  or  Bifhops 
of  the  Country,  in  the  primitive  Church  ;  and  it 
is  their  Buiinefs  to  difcharge  all  Offices  merely 
Epifcopal,  in  the  remote  Parts  of  the  Diocefs  where- 
in they  rcfide,  according  to  the  Diredlion  of,  and" 
by  Virtue  of  a  Commiffion  from,  the  Diocefan  *. 
And  fmce  the  Term  has  been  omitted,  fuch  Ex- 
planations have  attended  our  Petitions  for  Ame- 
rican Bifhops,  that  I  know  not  of  a  fingle  Inilance, 
wherein  Reafon  has  been  given  to  fuTped,  that  a 
Departure  from  the  fame  general  Plan  has  been 
aimed  at  or  defired.  And  of  this  I  am  certain^ 
that  all  our  AddrelTes  from  this  and  feveral  of  the 
neighbouring  Colonies,  for  many  years,  have  had 
one  confident  and  unvaried  Tenor,  agreeable  to 
the  preceding  Explanation. 

"What  Weight  will  be  allowed  to  thefe  AfTer- 
tions,  the  Author  knows  not  -,  but  the  Authority 
of  the  following  Declaration  to  the  fame  Purpofe, 
contained  in  an  Anfwer  to  Dr.  Mayhew's  Obfervati- 
ons^  cannot  fairly  be  difputed ;  as  the  Author  of 
it,  fuppofed  to  be  a  very  high  Dignitary  in  the 
Church,  manifeilly  difcovers  that  he  is  perfe6lly 
acquainted  with  the  Affairs  of  the  Society^  and  of 
the  Church  in  America.  Speaking  of  the  Mem- 
bers of  the  latter,  he  fays  :  "  It  is  defired,  tliat 
"  Two  or  more  Bifhops  may  be  appointed  for  them^^ 
"  to  refide  where  his  Majefty  Ihali  think  moft  con- 
"  venient ;  -  that  they  may  have  no  Concern  in  the 
"  leaft  with  any  Perfons  who  do  not  profefs  them- 

*  Dr.  Grey's  Syjiem  ofEngliJb  Ecckf.afilceJ  Losa.\ 

"  felves 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  8i 

«  felves  to  be  of  the  Church  of  England,  but  may  Sect. 
"  ordain  Minifters  for  fuch  as  do ;  may  confirm 
"  their  Children,  when  brought  to  them  at  a  fit 
"  Age  for  that  Purpofe,  and  take  fuch  Overfight 
"  of%he  Epifcopal  Clergy,  aa  the  Bifhop  of  Lon- 
*'  don's  CommilTaries  in  thofe  Parts  have  been  em- 
"  powered  to  take,  and  have  taken,  without  Of- 
"  fence.  But  it  is  not  defired  in  the  kaft  that  they 
"  fhould  hold  Courts  to  try  Matrimonial  or  Tefta- 
"  mentary  Caufes,  or  be  veiled  with  any  Autho- 
'"  rity  now  exercifed,  either  by  provincial  Gover- 
"  nors  or  fubordinate  Magiftates,  or  infringe  or 
"  diminifh  any  Privileges  and  Liberties  enjoyed  by 
*'  any  of  the  Laity,  even  of  our  own  Communion, 
*'  This  is  the  real  and  the  only  Scheme  that  hath  been 
"  planed  for  Bifhops  in  America  -,  and  whoever 
*'  hath  heard  of  any  other,  hath  been  mifmformed 
'*  through  Miilake  or  Defign .*" 

Now  what  reafonable  Objedions  can  be  offered 
againft  fuch  a  Plan  as  this,  which  is  fo  univerfally 
harmlefs  in  every  Refped,  that  none  can  be  injured 
by  it  ♦,  and  fo  ufeful  withal,  that  near  a  Million  of 
Perfons  will  receive  Benefit,  and  perhaps  the  Sal- 
vation of  many  Souls  will  be  effedled,  by  its  being 
put  in  Execution  ?  Can  any  Thing  be  promoted  by 
it,  but  the  Good  of  the  Church  ?  Can  any  Thing 
then  be  objeded  againft  it,  but  that  this  End  will 
be  promoted  ?  But  will  any  dare,  in  this  Age  of 
Britilh  Freedom  and  improved  Liberty,  to  avow 
the  Objeftion  ?  Would  not  fuch  a  barefaced  At- 
tempt thus  wantonly  to  opprefs  us,  and  to  prevent 
our  Enjoyment  of  thofe  invaluable  Rights,  to 
which  we  are  equally  intitled  with  others— which 
there  is  no  Pretence  that  we  have  ever  forfeited — 
and  no  Appearance  of  a  Difpofition  to  abufe— 

M  roufe 


*  Page  59. 


S2  A  N     A  P  P  E  A  L 

Tm  S''-^^^^'%^''^^§"^^^^"   snd  Refentment  of  all  t^e 
•  J^riends  of  religious  Liberty  andTolerarion,  whe- 
ther Chiiirchman  or  Diflenters  ? ' 

.Every  Oppofition  to  fjch  a  Plan,  has  the  Nature 
of  Perlecution,  and  deferves  the  Name.  t:or  to 
pun^lh  us  for  our  religious  Principles,  when  no 
Reafons  of  State  require  it,  is  Perfecution  in  its 
.  ftriaefl  and  propereft  Senfe.  Will  it  be  faid,  that 
the  Prevention  of  an  Epifcopate  in  America,  is  no 
Pumfhment  ?  It  may  as  well  be  faid,  that  keeping 
^  Man  out  of  his  Right  is  no  Injuftice.  Whatever 
Evil  IS  inflidied  on  us  on  account  of  our  Principles. 
or  Pradices,  is  proper  ly  Punifhment;  and  every  ■ 
Good  we  are  deprived  of,  is  equivalent  to  an  Evil 
mflicled.  Wherever  therefore  an  Evil  is  inflided, 
or  we  are  deprived  of  a  Good,  en  account  of  our 
Rehg.on,  unlefs  it  be  neceffary  for  the  Security  of 
theiVohc,  we  fuffer  Perfecution.  i 

As  fuch, Treatment  has  the  very  EfTence  of  Per- 
fecutioii,  fo  it  can  have  its  Source  only  in  an  into- 
lerant perfecuting  Difpofition.  And  it  is  not  to  be 
doubted  but  a  Difpofition  that  will  produce  thus 
much,  if  armed  with  Power,  would  be  produdtive 
of  more— and  that  they,  who  only  endeavour  now 
to  prevent  our  Enjoyment  of  thofe  Advantages,  to 
^  which  we  are  intitled  by  the  Laws  of  God  and  the 
Conflitution,  would  bring  us,  if  they  could,  to  the 
Stake  or  the  Gibbet.  But  w^hat  an  Abomination 
is  fuch  a  Difpofition  and  Behaviour,  in  the  Eyes  of 
every  true  Etiglilhman,  of  every  true  Proteftant  f 
What  an  Indignity  and  Affront  to  the  Nation,  to 
defire  it  to  countenance  fuch  Injuftice  and  Cruelty! 

;  It  is  hard  to  believe  that  any  Proteftants,  efpe- 
cialiy  that  any  Englifli  DifTenters,  who  have  gene-^  I 
rally,  foi  a  Century  paft,  been  warm  Advocates  for    ' 

rehgious 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  83 

re'igious  Liberty,  and  who  are  greatly  indebted  to  ^^^Ji' 
a  Toleration  themfelves,  can  be  lb  inconfiftent,  as  ^     ' 
to  wilh  this  Harm  to  the  Members  of  the  national 
Church.     It  would  be  a  very  ungrateful  Return, 
for  the  mofl  ample,  compleat  and  generous  Tole- 
ration, which  is  this  Day  to  be  found  upon  Earth. 
Many  of  the  moit  fenfible  Men  belonging  to  that 
Body,  have  exprelTed,  on  this  Subjedt,  Sentiments 
that  are  candid  and  liberal  ^  and  he  who  was  late- 
ly confidered  in  fome  Senfe  as  their  Head  *,  when 
our  Plan  was  explained  to  him,  and  his  Opinion 
thereupon  was  defired,  did  not  hefitate  to  declare 
his  free  Confent  to,  and  Approbation  of,  American 
Bifhops,  in  the  Manner  that  we  requeft  them. 

The  Principles  of  religious  Liberty  profeiTed  by 
the  DifTenters^  muft  not  only  reftrain  them  from 
oppofmg  an  American  Epifcopate,  as  now  fettled 
and  explained,  but  oblige  them,  if  they  would 
ad  confidently,  even  to  befriend  it.    Some  of  them, 
I  am  fully  perfuaded,  would  freely  join  with  us  in 
our  Applications  for  Bifhops,  if  their  AfTillance 
was  needed,  as  we  Ihould  be  ready  to  alTill  them, 
in  Cafe  of  the  like  Grievances ;  and  all  of  them  will 
really  have  a  much  worfe  Opinion  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  general,  or  of  thofe  who  belong  to 
it,  as  probably  their  Reproaches  on  future  Occa- 
fions  will  teftify,  if  this  Matter  Ihould   not   be 
brought  to  a  fpeedy  and  happy  Termination.    For 
certainly  nothing  can  more  degrade  our  national 
Religion,  in  the  Eyes  of  DifTenters  and  others, 
both  Proteftants  and  Papifts,  at  Home  and  abroad, 
than  to  fee  that  it  is  in  fo  fmall  Eftimation,  and  its 
Interefl  fo  little  regarded,  by  thofe  who  profefs  it.^ 
For,  wherever  Men  are  indifferent  towards  the 
Religion  they  profefs,    one  of  thefe  Conclufions 

will 

^  j)^^  ^^^;«^/  aiandler,       '  -— 


H  A  N     A  P  P  E  A  L 

^Vill  ^^^^  neceffarily  be  made,  and  there  is  no  preven- 
•  ting  it— either  that  their  Religion,  upon  a  more 
intimate  Acquaintance,  appears  to  be  unworthy  of 
their  Efteem  and  AfFedion—or,  that  its  ProfefTors 
are  of  an  irreligious  Charader,  and  have  no  Regard 
for  that  which  is  the  moft  invaluable  of  all  Things. 
And  in  either  Cafe,  the  Reputation  of  their  Reli- 
gion will  greatly  fuffer. 

At  the  Time  of  writing  this,  cafting  my  Eyes 
upon  the  Pul?lic  Paper  of  the  Day,  I  was  ftruck 
with  the  following  Paragraph,  faid  to  be  an  Anfwer 
from  the  King  of  Poland  to  the  Emprefs  oi  Ruffia^ 
who  had  interpofed  with  that  Monarch,  in  Behalf 
of  his  Proteftant  Subjeds.  «  I  have  not  forgot  the 
"  Obligations  I  am  under  to  the  Emprefs  of  Ruf- 
"  fia,  among  the  Means  which  God  Almighty 
"  made  Ufe  of  to  raife  me  to  the  Throne  r'^but 
"  when  I  came  to  it,  I  promifed  the  exad  Obfer- 
"  vation  of  my  Religion  throughout  my  Kingdom. 
*'  If  1  was  weak  enough  to  abandon  it,  my  I^ife 
*'  and  my  Throne  would  be  expoled  to  the  juft 
*'  Refentment  of  my  Subjeds.  T  am  threatened 
*'  with  forcible  Means  to  oblige  me  to  do  what  is 
"  aflced  of  me,  which  would  reduce  me  to  an 
"  Extremity  equally  unhappy.  I  perceive  fome 
"  Danger  in  whatever  Refolution  I  may  take  ;  but 
"  I  had  rather  be  expofed  to  fuch  as  my  Bitty  and 
"  Honour  induce  me  to  make  Choice  of;  and  from 

this  Time  I  join  with  my  Country  in  Defence  of 
*'  our  holy  Religion." 

On  tlie  Suppofition,  that  the  Propofals,  made  by 
her^  Ruffian  Majefly  to  the  King  of  Poland,  were 
believed  to  be  inconfiftent  with  the  Safety  of  the 
national  Religion,  there  is  Something  fo  fenfible, 
Ipinted  and  open  in  this  Declaration,  that  every 
candid  and  confident  Proteilant  mult  applaud  it, 

at 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  85 

at  the  fame  Time  that  he  condemns  the  eftablifhed  Sect. 
Religion  of  Poland.  Popery  is  a  grofs  Corruption  ^^^^• 
of  the  Chriftian  Religion,  and  it  has  been  wrought 
up  to  its  prefent  State,  by  the  Application  and  Po- 
licy of  many  Ages.  It  prefents  to  us,  not  the  ami- 
able and  undefiled  Religion  of  the  Gofpel,  but 
under  the  Name  of  it,  an  intolerant  Syftem,  com- 
pounded of  Superftition,  Abfurdity,  and  I  know 
not  what  ♦,  and  it  manifeftly  appears  to  be  the  gene- 
ral Intereft  of  Mankind,  to  endeavour,  in  the  Ufe 
of  all  proper  and  fair  Means,  to  reform  it.  But 
although  this  appears  to  be  fo  evident  to  Prote- 
ftants,  there  are  undoubtedly  others,  to  whom  it 
does  not  appear  at  all,  and  who  believe  the  contrary. 

As  the  King  of  Poland  has  folemnly  bound  him- 
felf  by  Oath,  to  maintain  and  defend  the  Popifh 
Religion,  we  muft  charitably  fuppofe  that  he  be- 
lieves it  to  be  true.  And  as  he  believes  it  to  be 
true,  and  has  fworn  to  maintain  it,  he  cannot  give 
it  up,  he  cannot  negled  it,  without  betraying  his 
Duty  and  Honour^  in  the  Opinion  of  all  reafonable 
and  unprejudiced  Perfons.  If  therefore  the  Diflen- 
ters  and  others,  who  are  fenfible  of  the  Abfurdities 
and  Corruptions  of  the  Popifh  Religion,  cannot 
but  commend  this  firm  Adherence  to  it  in  his  Po- 
lifh  Majefly,  fo  long  as  he  believes  it  to  be  the  true 
Religion ;  furely  they  mufl  at  leaft  equally  com- 
mend the  like  Condud,  with  Regard  to  the  na- 
tional Religion,  in  Proteflant  Princes — ^^more 
efpecially,  when  the  Security  of  the  eflablifhed  Re- 
ligion, and  a  Toleration  of  thofe  who  peaceably 
difTent  from  it,  are  allowed  to  be  confiflent. 

In  the  fame  Public  Paper  we  are  told,  that  the 
Courts  of  London^  Berlin  and  Copenhagen,  have 
agreed  to  afTifl  and  co-operate  with  the  Ruffian  Em- 
prefs,  in  Favour  of  the  Proteftants  in  Poland.     It 

muft 


86  ANAPPEAL 

Vm!  ^^^^^  S^^'^  Pleafure  to  every  confiderate  Proteflant, 
to  hear  of  lb  generous  an  Effort  to  be  made,  pro- 
vided it  be  made  properly,  in  Behalf  of  the  refor- 
med Religion  -,  and  we  cannot  but  earneftly  wiih  it 
Succels.  But  could  it  be  conceived,  that  thofe 
Powers  who  are  thus  adive  for  the  Proteilant  In- 
terefl  in  foreign  Countries,  would  negieft  to  en- 
courage it  in  their  own  proper  Dominions,  their 
Zeal  for  it  abroad  would  be  efteemed  but  little  bet- 
ter than  political  Grimace.  And  on  this  Principle 
our  Englifn  Dillenters  would  have  a  much  better 
Opinion  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  of  our 
Superiors  v/ho  are  Members  of  it,  if,  while  they 
warmly  intereil  themfelves  in  Favour  of  Proteilan- 
tifmi  in  Poland,  they  do  not  inconfiftently  negled, 
what  they  profefs  to  elleem  the  purefb  Species  of  it, 
in  our  own  Colonies.  A  true  Regard  for  the  Pro- 
teflant  Religion  is  not  confined  to  particular  Places : 
it  will  produce  vigorous  Endeavours  to  im.prove 
and  fecure  it,  and  to  render  it  as  refpedtable  as  we 
can,  in  all  Places  -,  and  efpecially  in  thofe  Places, 
wherewith  we  are  moil  clofely  connedled,  and 
wherein  our  Power  and  Influence  are  greateil. 


SECT, 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  87 


SECTION     IX. 

That  the  Epifcopate  propofed  cannot  hurt  the  Biffen- 
ters^  and  is  free  from  all  reafonahle  Ohje^ions. 

SHOULD  it  be  pretended,  that  what  appears  Sect. 
to  be  fo  reafonable  in  itfelf  as  an  American  IX, 
Epifcopate,  and  fo  becoming  the  Honour  and  Cha- 
rader  of  the  Britifh  Nation  to  grant,  would  be  pro- 
dudlive  of  much  Clamour  and  Difcontent  in  the 
Colonies,  and,  on  that  Account,  that  found  Po- 
licy forbids  it ;  it  would  be  an  ill-grounded  Af- 
fertion. 

It  may  deferve  Confideration,  whether  any  Un- 
eafinefs  that  can  be  imagined,  fo  deflitute  of  a 
proper  Foundation  to  fupport  it,  that  can  arife  from 
the  Profpea:  of  Bifhops  in  America,  fent  only  to 
take  Care  of  the  Church,  in  the  Manner  explained, 
can  in  Reafon  and  Policy  juilify  the  Refufal  of 
what  IS  fo  elTentially  needed.  Every  reafonable 
Objedlion  of  others  ought  to  be  confidered ;  but 
thofe  which  are  evidently  perverfe  and  unreafon- 
able,  efpecially  after  due  Care  has  been  taken  to 
make  that  Unreafonablcnefs  and  Perverfenefs  ap- 
pear, deferve  not  to  be  regarded— much  lefs  to  be 
regarded  in  ilich  a  Manner,  as  to  facrifice  thereto 
the  Intereft  and  very  Being  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land in  America.  But  if  the  Uneafmefs  of  Ame- 
ricans be  of  fuch  Confequence,  why  the  Uneafmefs 
of  the  Members  and  Friends  of  the  Church,  fo 
juftly  founded  in  Cafe  of  a  Refufal,  dpferves'not 
to  be  confidered,  as  much  as  the  Uneafmefs  of  its 
Enemies  without  any  Foundation,  will  be  difficult 
^^  ^^^^'  Should 


88  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  Should  it  be  faid,  wttich  I  conceive  is  the  only 
IX.  xhing  that  can  be  faid  to  the  Purpofe,  that  Dif-: 
content  in  the  Minds  of  Churchmen  has  not  that 
dangerous  Tendency  with  Refped  to  the  Govern- 
men't,  which  there  is  Reafon  to  apprehend  of  it  in 
the  Minds  of  others  :  whether^  and  how  far  this  is 
true,  I  will  not  undertake  to  determine.  But  this 
may  truly  and  properly  be  faid,  that  fo  long  as  we 
are  governed  by  the  Principles  of  the  Church  of 
England,  no  Hardlhips  or  Trials  which  we  are 
doomed  to  undergo,  will  ever  occafion  juft  Sufpi- 
cions  of  our  Fidelity  and  Loyalty.  But  then, 
ought  our  inflexible  Loyalty  and  political  Integrity 
to  be  thought,  in'fuch  a  Cafe,  a  fufficient  Reafon 
for  our  being  denied  the  common  Rights  of  Britifh 
Subjeda,  and  the  moft  facred  Rights  of  Confcience? 
We  humbly  apply  to  our  Superiors— we  call  even 
upon  our  Enemies— we  appeal  to  the  World— for 
a  Decifion  of  this  Point. 

Thefe  Things  have  been  hinted  as  worthy  of 
Confideration,  even  on  the  Suppofition  that  fending 
Biihops  to  America  could  be  really  attended  with 
Difcontent  and  Uneafmefs  inDiflenters  and  others. 
But  of  any  confiderable  Difcontent  or  Uneafmefs, 
there  is  no  Reafon  to  be  apprehenfive.  Whatever 
Notions  the  DifTenters  in  this  Country  may  have 
formerly  entertained,  concerning  the  Church  •,  yet 
of  late  Years  they  have  greatly  come  off  from  their 
Prejudices,  and  Sentiments  of  Candour,  Chanty 
and  Moderaion  have  vifibly  taken  Place.  And, 
excepting  here  and  there  a  hot-headed  Writer,  or 
a  pragmatical  Enthufiall,  fome  of  whom  are  to  be 
found  in  all  Communions,  who  exped  to  find  their 
Account  in  raifmg  a  Combuftion  and  being  noify, 
we  would  hope  of  the  DilTenters  in  America,  that 
they  bear  no  lU-Will  to  the  Church,  and  defire 

nothing 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  89 

nothing  niore  than  Security  in  the  Enjoyment  of  ^^^^^^ 
their  prefent  Advantages. 

Indeed  in  the  Time  of  the  late  Diflurbances  oc- 
cafioned  by  the  Stajnp-A^^  it  was  afTerted  in  fome 
of  the  London  Papers^  that  the  Fear  of  Bifhops  being  - 
fent  into  America,  was  the  principal  Caufe  of  that 
Uneafmefs  and  Clamour,  which  raifed  fuch  a  Flame 
in  ;his  Country.  Every  one  here  knew  the  Afler- 
tion  to  be  a  vile  and  malicious  Reprefentation  of 
the  Cafe  ;  and  whoever  could  believe  it  to  be  true^ 
muft  have  previoufly  conceived  of  the  Americans, 
as  being  of  all  Creatures  tiie  moil  wretchedly  flu- 
pid.  The  Difcontent  of  that  Time,  arofe  altoge- 
ther from  another  Quarter.  It  was  by  no  Means 
peculiar  to  the  E-ejeccers  of  Epifcopacy,  nor  had 
any  Relation  to  it ;  but  proceeded  from  what  the 
Americans  generally  efteemed,  and  complained  of, 
as  an  imconfiiiutional  oppreffive  A5f.  I  appeal  to  all 
the  Remonftrances  of  thofe  unhappy  Times — to  all 
that  was  publidied  here,  either  m  Pamphlets  or 
periodical  Papers,  v/hether  the  Fear  of  an  Epifco- 
pate  was  ^;2<r^^affigned  as  a  Reafon  for  the  public 
Uneafinefs.  And  I  appeal  to  every  American, 
v/hether  there  now  is,  or  ever  has  been  any  con- 
fiderable  Noife  or  public  Clamour  on  this  Account. 
For  myfelf,  I  can  truly  declare,  that  I  have  .not 
heard  of  any,  nor  do  I  forfee  any. 

Of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Country,  a  full  third 
Part  belong  to  the  Church,  and  a  confiderable  Pro- 
portion of  others  are  profeifcd  Epifcopalians  ,  ai  .d 
none  of  thefe  can  be  luppofed  confidently  to  have 
an  Averfion  to  Bifhops.  Of  the  Eng'iili  Difibn- 
ters,  .a  very  large  and  refpedtabie  Body  are  the 
People  called  fakers ;  who  entertain  a  particular 
Friendfhip  and  P».efpe6l  for  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  have  given  many  fubltantial  Proofs  of  it.  . 

N  "  The 


^o  ANAPPEAL 

Sect.  The  Affair  of  Biihops  has  been  mentioned  and 
explained  to  many  of  them,  and  they  appear  to 
have  no  Difpofition  to  be  jealous  or  uneafy  on  Ac 
count  of  their  coming. 

^  Andas  to  Diflcnters  of  other  Denominations,  the 
Subjea  has  been  propofed  to  fome  of  the  moftVen- 
fible  of  them,  who  have,  with  great  Candour,  con- 
felTed,  that  as  fuch  an  Epifcopate  as  has  been  re- 
quefled,  could  have  no  ill  Effed  upon  any,  they 
had  no  Objedions  to  offer.  Nay  fome  have  even 
been  fo  generous^  as  to  endeavour  to  undeceive 
their  more  ignorant  and  illiberal  Brethren,  if  the 
Author  of  thefe  Papers  has  not  been  mifinformed. 
And  even  amongil  the  moft  prejudiced,  it  is  hoped 
that  but  few  can  be  found,  who  would  not  think 
themfelves  injured  by  any  Sufpicions  of  their  havino- 
fuch  an  Antipathy  to  Bilhops,  that  they  cannot  en"^ 
dure  to  breathe  the  fame  Air,  or  to  live  in  the 
fame  Country,  with  them.  Time  perhaps  was 
when  this  might  be  truly  faid  of  fome  of  them  • 
but  the  prefent  Age  has,  in  this  Refped,  mended 
greatly  on  ail  Sides,  in  this,  as  well  as  in  the  Mo- 
ther-Country. 

The  Diffenters  in  England  find  that  they  can  liv^ 
happily  with  Bifhops,  even  where  their' Jurifdic- 
tion  is  complete— where  it  extends  to  all  Perfons 
—and  where  it  is  fupported  by  all  the  Streno-th  of 
the  civil  Power.  The  Englilh  Bifhops  have,''for  a 
long  Courfe  of  Years,  exercifed  their  Authority 
with  fo  much  Mildnefs,  Tendernefs  and  Modera- 
tion, as  fcarcely  to  have  afforded  an  Inilance  of 
reafonable  Complaint,  efpecially  to  Diffenters ;  and 
many  of  the  latter  have  been  fo  generous  as  to  J 
confefs  it.  The  late  Dr.  George  Benfon,  a  very  ?l 
learned  Diffenter,  did  not  fcruple  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing Declaration.  "  The  Church  of  England, 

"^with 


T  O    T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  91 

*^  with  its  prefent  Candour,  Spirit  of  Toleration  Sect' 
*'  and  Charity,  appears  to  me,  to  be  the  beft  Efta- 
"  bhihment  on  the  Face  of  the  Earth  *." 

The    Authors    of  the   Monthly    Review^   than 
whom  none  can  be  warmer  Advocates  for  every 
Species  of  rehgious  Liberty  and   Indulgence,^  fay, 
with  particular  Reference   to    our  very  Subjed  : 
"  Whatever  formidable  Ideas  of  Epifcopacy,  thofe 
"  DiiTenters  that  fled  into  America,  might  carry 
"  along  with  them,  and  tranfmit  to  their  Poflerity, 
"  we  can  fafely  aver,  that  Epifcopal  Power,  gran- 
"  t:ng  that  it  was  opprelTive  formerly,  is  not  fo 
^  now  :  and  that   Di&nters   at  Home  have  no 
**  Reafon  to  conceive  any  Terror  of  it  -f ."  If  then 
the  DifTenters  in  England,  who  live  under  the  im- 
mediate Jurifdi6lion  and  Government  of  an  Fpif- 
copate,  find  no  Reafon  to  complain  or  "  to  conceive 
"  any  Terror  of  it  •,"  furely  in  America  they  can- 
not have  Reafon  to  be  terrified  at  the  Profpecfl  of 
the  fame  Epifcopate— efpecially  as  they  will  not  be 
under  the  Jurifdidion  and  Government  thereof  in 
any  Refped.  , 

As  all  Power  is  liable  to  be  abufed,  and  fome 
Defe6i:s  mull  be  expedted  in  the  beil-regulated 
Government  in  this  World,  whether  Ecclefiailical 
or  Civil  •,  it  is  not  denied  but  there  have  been  for- 
merly fome  Inftances,  wherein  the  Power  of  our  ^ 
BilHops  has  been  ftrained  too  high.  But  thefe 
may  be  confidered  rather  as  the  Fault  of  the  Times, 
in  which  neither  the  natural  Rights  of  Men,  noj* 
the  religious  Rights  cf  Chrifiiians,  were  fo  well  de- 
fined and  underilood,  as  in  the  prefent  Age.  And 
even  then^  the  Spirit  of  the  Church  of  England  Kke 

that 


*  In  his-Iif/?  ofTefus  Chrijl^  as  quoted  by  the  Monthly  Reuicwers, 
t  Vol,  XXX.  Page  285. 


92  AN     APPEAL 

Sect,  that  of  the  Gofpel,  was  more  "  peaceable,  o-entle 
^'  "  and  eafy  to  be  entreated,"  than  that  of  any'^other 
national  Church;  and  the  Enghdi  Bnaiops,to  whom 
It  was  greatly  owing,  were  treated  with  particular 
Refpe6t  on  that  Account.  In  what  Light  the  moil 
.  eminent  Reformers  and  foreign  Proteilants  have 
always  confidered  them  and  the  Englilh  Prelacy, 
may  be  ken  in  Tbe  French  Church's  Apology  for  the.. 
Church  of  England  *,  to  which  I  muft  refer  thofe> 
who  are  defirous  of  particular  Information. 

In  the  mean  Time,  I  beg  Leave  to  produce  two.' 
fnort  Extrads  from   that  Work.     The  firll  fliall  ' 
be  from  a  Declaration  of  the  celebrated  Feter  du 
Moulin,  an  eminent  Profellbr  of  the  French  Church  | 
in  the  Beginning  of  the  laft  Century,  in  the  fol- 1 
lowmg  Words  :  ''  I  know  that  under  Pretence  \ 
*'  that  the  Church  of  England  hath  another  Form 
.    *^'  of  Difcipiine  than  ours  is,  our  Adverfaries  (the 
^'  Papills)  charge  us  that  our  Religion  is  divers. 

But  Experience  confuteth  this  Accufation.— 
*'  The  moR-  excellent  Servants  of  God  in  our 
^i  Churches,  Peter  Martyr,  Calvin,  Zanchius,  Beza, 
*'  &c.  have  often  written  Letters  full  of  Refped 
''^  and  Amity  to  the  Prelates, of  England.— Our 

Adverfaries.  unjullly  accufe  us  to  be  Enemies  ' 
"  of  the  Epifcopal  Order."  The  other  Extrad 
ihall  be  from  the  V\^ords  oi  Calvin  himfelf.  "  Give 
''  us  fuch  a  Hierarchy  (fays  he)  in  which  Bijhops 
"  prefide,  who  are  fubjed  to  Chriil  and  to  him 
"  alone  (not  to  the  Pope)  as  their  only  Head; 
^'.  and  then  I  will  own  no  Curfe  too  bad  for  him 
"  that  iliall  not  pay  the  utmoft  Refped  and  Ohe- 
"  bedience  to  fuch  an  Hierarchy  as  that."  And 
what  Calvin  fays  in  general  of  fuch  an  Hierarchy 


Binghanis  Works,  Folio  Edition,  Vol.  IL 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  93 

as  ours,  Beza  and  the  mod  iiludrious  foreign  Pro-  Sect. 
teflants  have  particularly  applied  to  the  Church  of    ^^* 
England. 

If  then  Calvin  and  the  mofl  celebrated  foreign 
Protefbants,  were  of  Opinion,  in  former  'Times ^  that 
the  Diffenters  in  England  ought  peaceably  to  fuh- 
mit  to  the  Government  of  our  Bifhops  :  furely  the 
Diffenters  in  America  now^  when  the  Englifh  Epif- 
copal  Government  is  fo  much  milder  than  hereto- 
fore, will  not  oppofe  the  very  Exiftence  of  Bifhops 
in  the  fame  Country  v/ith  themfelves — efpecially  as 
no  Obedience  or  Submiffion  at  all  from  them  is 
required  or  expelled.  But,  as  was  faid  before, 
I  take  not  this  to  be  the  prefent  Difpofition  of 
Diffenters  in  America,  and  believe  that  they  would 
refent  the  Imputation  of  it  as  a  grofs  Affront. 
They  have  acquired  the  fam.e  liberal  Turn  in  their 
Sentiments  and  Manners,  with  the  Diffenters  at 
Home  ;  and  provided  there  be  no  Invafion  of  their 
Privileges  and  Rights,  they  can  live  as  quietly  and 
peaceably  with  their  Neighbours,  although  diffe- 
ring in  Principles,  and  even  with  Billiops,  as  their 
Brethren  can  in  any  other  Part  of  the  World. 

Some  of  them  indeed  formerly  have  had  an 
Averfion  to  the  Idea  of  Bifhops  in  America,  on 
the  Suppofition  that  they  mufb  become  fubjedi;  to 
their  Authority.  But  the  Plan  which  is  now  fixed, 
muff  effectually  obviate  all  their  Objedtions  and 
diffipate  their  Fears*.  As  the  Bifhops  propofed 
will  have  no  Power  over  them,  or  Concern  with 
them,  there  can  be  nothing  to  alarm  them.  Our 
Ordinations  cannot  hurt  them  ;  any  more  than  their 
Ordinations  can  injure  vis.  They  can  have  no  more 
Reafon  to  complain  of  Confirmation,  or  of  any 
other  Epifcopal  Office  performed  in  our  Churches 
by  Bifhops,  than  they  now  have  to  complain,  that 

Preach* 


94  A  N     A  P  P  E  A  L 

Sf  cT.  Preachins;  and  the  common  Adminiftration  of  the 
^^^  Sacraments  are  pradiced  in  them  by  Prefbyters. 
And  as  to  fuch  Difcipline  and  Government  as  is  in- 
tended to  be  exercifed  under  an  Epifcopate,  they 
will  have  no  Reafons  to  be  difTatisfied  therewith  -, 
any  more  than  we  now  have  to  be  difTatisfied  with 
the  Difcipline  exercifed  by  them—but  on  the  other 
Hand,  they  will  have  many  Reafons  to  be  pleafed 
with  it. 

There  are  feveral  Things  in  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land in  America,  owing  to  the  Want  of  a  proper 
Superintendency  and  Government,  with  which  they 
fay  they  are  offended^  and  the  Removal  of  Offences 
will  naturally  give  them  Pleafure.  Sometimes 
they  have  been  grieved,  at  feeing  the  ill  Behaviour 
of  a  Clergyman  in  the  Orders  of  our  Church ;  but 
by  the  Settlement  of  American  Bifhops,  a  Remedy 
wll  be  provided  for  this  Diforder.  Sometimes  they 
have  lamented,  that  the  Bifhops  at  Home,  and  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel^  have  been 
impofed  upon  by  falfe  Accounts  tranfmitted  from 
hence  by  our  American  Clergy,  (whether  with  or 
without  juil  and  fufHcient  Reafons,  I  will  not  flop 
to  enquire)  j  but  under  an  Epifcopate,  they  mufl 
be  fenfible  that  there  can  be  no  Opportunity  for 
any  grofs  Impofitions  of  this  Nature.  Sometimes, 
again.  Complaints  have  been  made,  that,  in  Con- 
ft  quence  of  this  falfe  Information,  MifTions  have 
been  ereded  in  improper  Places,  and  the  Society's 
Bounty  has  been  mifapplied ;  but  of  all  fuch  Cafes 
Bifliops  in  this  Country  will  be  competent  Judges, 
and  no  Perverfion  or  Abufe  of  the  Societv's  Fa- 
vours will  be  fulfered  to  continue.  Some  of  them 
have  fignified  that  it  would  give  them  the  utmoft 
pleafure,  to  fee  more  vigorous  Efforts  made  by  the 
Society^  for  propagating  the  Gofpel  amongft  the 

Heathqus 


I 


IX. 


TO    THE    PUBLIC.  95 

Heathens  on  our  Borders :  This  Pleafure  the  So-  Sect. 
ciety  intends  to  afford  them,  as  foon  as  Bilhops 
Ihall  be  fettled  in  America,  without  which  this  im- 
portant Work  cannot  be  condu61:ed  properly— and 
this  is  one  Reafon  why  an  Epilcopate  has  been  fo 
earneflly  requefted.  I  might  inftance  in  many  other 
Particulars  to  the  fame  Purpofe,  but  thefe"  are  fuf- 
ficient  to  fhew,  that  an  American  Epifcopate  will 
probably  produce  many  Effe6ls  that  will  be  agree- 
able to  the  Diffenters.  And  as  the  Laws  of  Chri- 
(lian  Charity  and  Benevolence  oblige  them  to  de- 
fire  it,  for  our  Sake  -,  fo  they  may  be  fjppofed, 
very  confidently,  to  defire  it  alfo  for  their  own. 

If  our  American  Bilhops  are  to  have  no  Autho- 
rity over  Diffenters,  nor  indeed  to  exercife  Difci- 
pline  over  our  own  People,  the  Clergy  excepted  -, 
then  the  frightful  Obiedion  of  Spiritual  Courts  in- 
tirely  vanifhes.  For  if  no  Authority  of  this  Kind 
will  be  claimed  or  exercifed  by  them,  we  may  be 
fure  that  no  Courts  will  be  ereded  for  the  Exercife 
of  it. 

What  Foundation  there  is  for  Complaint  of  the 
Spiritual  Courts  in  England,  1  know  not.  Per- 
haps they  may  have  ufed  too  great  Severity  in  fome 
jparticular  Inftances.  But  this  Complaint  is  not 
unfrequently  made,  of  our  common  Courts  of 
Juilice.  Cruelty  and  Severity  is  by  no  Means  the 
Charadtef  of  the  Englifh  Bilhops,  nor  is  it  conne6ted 
with  the  Exercife  of  their  Authority,  more  than 
with  that  of  the  civil  Magiftrate  :  and  in  all  Courts, 
Whether  Ecclefiaftical  or  others,  where  an  Injury 
is  fuffered,  the  Laws  of  England  have  provided  a 
Remedy. 

If  fome  of  the  Laws  which  relate  to  thefc  Courts, 
are  imagined  to  bear  hard  upon  Britifh  Liberty, 

this, 


96  A  N     A  P  P  fe  A  L 

Sect,  this,  by  the  Way,  is  not- neceilarily  to  be  confidered 
^^'  as  the  Fault  of  the  Bifnops — it  ought  to  be  charged 
to  the  Account  of  the  Legillature  in  general,  and 
not  of  a  particular  Branch  of  it.  But  b'e  this  as  it 
may,  it  is  probable  that  thefe,  and  all  other  Eccle- 
liafiical  Laws,  as  well  as  our  Liturgy  and  public 
Offices,  and  our  Trandation  of  the  Bible,  will  be 
reviev/ed,  as  foon  as  it  fhall  be  thought  that  there 
is  good  Senfe  and  Candour  enough  in  the  Body  of 
the  Nation  to  admit  of  it. 

Some  undoubtedly  blame  thefe  Courts,  becaufe 
they  find  themfelves  punifhed  therein  for  A6lions, 
of  which  other  Courts  at  prefent  take  no  Cogni- 
zance. But  fuch  Perfons  do  not  confider,  that  if 
Spiritual  Courts  were  aboliflied,  thofe  Addons 
which  are  profecuted  and  brought  to  Trial  there 
only,  would  many  of  them  be  made  punilhable  in 
other  Courts,  as  they  were  before  the  Norman  Co7i~ 
queft ',  fmce  they  are  efteemed  by  the  Legiflature 
of  the  Nation  to  be  inconfifcent  with  the  public 
Happinefs. 

'  Upon  the  Whole,  I  m.ay  venture  to  aifert,  that 
the  Spiritual  Courts  at  Flome,  with  aU  their  De- 
fe6ls,  are  an  Advantage *to  the  Public:  and  that 
the  Annihilation  of  them  would  be  no  Benefit  to 
thofe  Individuals,  who  make  the  loudefl  Com- 
plaints of  them.  But  whether  they  are  ufeful 
or  hurtful,  and  whether  the  Averfion  to  them  in  , 
this  Country  be  rightly  founded  or  not  •,  as  it  is 
certain  that  thty  will  never  be  eflablilhed  here, 
they  cannot  with  Propriety  be  made  an  Objection 
againfl  an  Epifcopate. 


SECT, 


rOTHEPUBLIC.  ^y 

Sect 


X. 


S  E  C  T  1  O  N    X. 

^he  Cafe  of  tithes  difiin5llj  examined^  and  the  Appr4- 
hen/ton  of  being  forced  to  pay  them  in  this  Country ^ 
proved  to  he  intirely  groundlefs. 

AS  to  'Tithes^  of  which  many  Americans  h^ve 
had  formidable  Apprehenfions,  there  could 
be  no  Reafon  to  fear  the  Payment  of  them  here, 
even  fhould  the  Authority  of  our  Bifhops  be  as  full 
and  extenfive  as  it  is  in  England ;  and  it  is  owing 
^iltogether  to  Ignorance  and  Mifapprehenfion,  that 
People  here  have  ever  given  themielves  Uneafmefs 
on  that  Account.  As  perhaps  no  Prejudice  has 
taken  deeper  Root  or  extended  wider  in  America 
than  this,  and  as  it  Hill  continues  to  prevail  in  the 
Minds  of  many  well-meaning  but  millaken  People; 
fome  Pidns  taken  to  undeceive  them,  and  to  place 
this  Subjedl  in  its  true  Light,  will  not  be  condem- 
ned by  the  friendly  Reader. 

Tithed  cannot  be  demanded  by  Bifnops  in  this 
Country,  becaufe  there  are  none  belonging  to  the 
Church  :  they  are  demanded  in  England,  only  be- 
caufe they  are  due  to  the  Church.  They  are  due 
to  the  Church  there,  becaufe  they  have  been  freely 
given  to  it,  by  the  ancient  Proprietors  of  the  Lands ; 
and  the  Laws  relating  to  them  do  not  convey  them 
to  the  Church,  but  make  them  recoverable  as  its 
Property,  to  which  it  had  a  previous  and  compleat 
Right.  This  Right  was  veiled  in  the  Church  by*  '■ 
King  Ethelwulph^  with  the  Confent  of  his  Barons, 
in  the  Year  854.  At  this  Time  all  the  Lands  in 
England  were  properly  the  Kings  Dcmefne^  and  he 

O  had 


98  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  had  as  good  a  Right  to  difpofe  of  any  Part  of  them 
^'  in  this  Manner,  as  any  Proprietor  or  Owner  of 
Lands  in  this  Country  has,  to  difpofe  of  them  to 
fuch  Perfons  and  for  fuch  Pnrpofes  as  he  thinks 
proper.  Sir  Edward  Coke^  in  his  Comment  upon 
Littleton's  'Tenures  *,  fays  :  "  It  appeareth  by  the 
"  Laws  and  Ordinances  of  ancient  Kings,  and  efpe- 
"  cially  of  King  Alfred,  that  the  firfl  King  of  this 
"  Realm  had  all  the  Lands  of  England  in  Demefne, 
"  and  les  grands  Manours  and  Royalties  they  refer- 
".  ved  to  themfelves,  and  with  the  Remnant  they 
«  for  the  Defence  of  the  Realm  enfeoffed  the  Ba- 
*'  rons  of  the  Realm  with  fuch  Jurifdidlion  as  the 
"  Court  Baron  now  hath." 

The  very  Charter,  by  which  this  Conveyance 
was  made,  is  extant,  we  are  told,  in  the  old  Ab-" 
bot  Ingulph,  in  Matthew  of  Weftminfter,  and  the 
Leiger  Book  of  the  Abbey  of  Abingdon,  This 
Charter  was  folemnly  offered  by  the  King  s^n  the 
Altar  at  Winchefter,  in  the  Prefence  of  his  Bilhops 
and  Barons,  and  of  Beored  and  Edtnund,  the  Two 
tributary  Princes  oi  Mercia  and  the  Eaft- Angles, 
by  whom  it  was  alfo  figned ;  it  was  accepted  by  the 
Bifhops  in  Behalf  of  the  Church,  and  immediately 
fuhlifhed  throughout  all  the  Parilhes  in  England. 
The  Charter,  as  tranllated  by  Collier,  is  in  the  fol- 
lowing Words  : 

"  I  Ethelwulph,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  King  of 
"  the  P^efi-Saxons,  with  the  Advice  of  the  Bifhops, 
"  Earls,  and  all  the  Perfons  of  Condition  in  my 
"  Dominions,  Have,  for  the  Health  of  my  Soul, 
"  the  Good  of  my  People,  and  the  Profperity  of 
"  my  Kingdom,  fixed  upon  a  prudent  and  fer- 
*'  viceable  Refolution  of  granting  the  Tenth  Part 

"  of 


*  As  quoted  by  Dr.  Hejlin, 


TOTHEPUBLIC.  99 

"  of  the  Lands  throughout  our  whole  Kingdom  to  Sect. 
"  the  holy  Churches  and  Minifters  of  Religion,  ^' 
"  officiating  and  fettled  in  them,  to  be  perpetually 
*'  enjoyed  by  them,  with  all  the  Advantages  of  a 
"  Free  Tenure  and  Eftate.  It  being  likewife  our 
''  Will  and  Pleafure,  that  this  unalterable  and  in- 
"  defeafible  Grant  Ihall  for  ever  remain  difcharged 
"  from  all  Service  due  to  the  Crown,  and  all  other 
''  Incumbrances  incident  to  Lay-Fees :  which  Grant 
*'  has  been  made  by  us  in  Honour  of  our  Lord 
"  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Blefled  Virgin,  and  all  Saints ; 
^'  and  out  of  Regard  to  the  Pafchal  Solemnity,  and 
"  that  God  Almighty  might  vouchfafe  his  BlefTing 
"  upon  us  and  our  Pofterity.  Signed  Anno  854, 
^'  Indi^ion  the  Second,  at  the  Feaft  of  Eafter  ■\'* 

Afterwards,  when  a  Diftribution  was  made  of 
the  Lands  to  the  Barons  for  the  Defence  of  the  King- 
dom, they  received  them  under  this  Incumbrance ;, 
and  by  Conveyance  and  Defcent  they  have  come 
down  into  the  Hands  of  their  prefentPofTeflbrs,  thus 
incumbered,  i.  e.  Nine  Parts  as  private  Property, 
and  the  Tenth  Part  as,  through  all  Changes,  be- 
longing to  the  Church.  When  therefore  the  TithQ 
is  paid  to  the  Church,  the  Church  only  receives 
its  own,  and  what  never  did,  nor  can  rightfully,  be-i 
long  to  the  Perfon  who  pays  it. 

To  make  the  Nature  of  Tithes  appear  plainer  if 
poflible,  let  us  confider  them  in  their  mod  fimple  and 
original  State,  before  any  Alteration  was  introduced 
by  Impropriations,  Modus's^  &c.  And  here  let  us 
fuppofe  two  Eftates  of  equal  Value,  each  to  be  really 
worth  One  Thoufand  Pounds,  but  one  free  from 
Tithes,  the  other  titheable.  If  thefe  two  Eftates 
were  to  be  fold,  the  Price  of  the  firft  would  be  its 

full 

•V  ■  .•  II  I         II       ■      I  M l 

'  t  Ecclejiajikal  Hi/iory,  Vol.  I,  Page  15.6. 


loo  A  N    A  P  P  E  A  L 

Sect,  full  Value  One  Thoufand  Pounds,  while  that  of 
the  other  would  be  abated,  in  Proportion  to  this  In- 
cumberance.  Or  fuppofing  thele  two  Eflates  to. 
be  leafed  at  an  annual  Rent ;  in  this  Cafe,  if  the 
former  is  rented  at  Fifty  Pounds  per  Annum,  the 
latter  will  be  rated  at  Forty-five  Pounds  only,  to, 
be  paid  to  the  Landlord,  the  remaining  Tenth  Part 
being  due  and  payable  to  the  Church. 

From  thefe  fuppofed  Cafes  the  Nature  of  Tithes 
plainly  appears  ;  and  it  alfo  appears,  that  none  have 
Reafon  to  complain  of  the  Hardfhip  of  paying 
them,  any  more  than  of  paying  Rent  to  the  Land- 
lord—or than  he  who  receives  Money  belonging  to 
the  Church,  can  juftly  complain  of  being  accoun- 
table for  the  Ufe  of  it.  For  as  the  Tenth  Part  of 
the  Produce  of  the  Land,  in  this  latter  Cafe,  be- 
longs to  the  Church,  the  Landlord  never  purchafed 
it,  and  confequently  he  has  no  Right  to  receive  it 
from  the  Tenant.  If  the  Tenant  pays  Five  Pounds 
in  Tithes  to  the  Church,  he  pays  but  Forty-five 
to  the  Landlord,  in  all  Fifty  Pounds  •,  whereas,  if 
he  paid  no  Tithes,  he  would  be  obliged  to  pay  the 
•  fame  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  to  the  Landlord.  If 
Tithes  were  exactly  paid  in  the  Manner  here  ftated, 
neither  Party  would  be  injured  in  their  Rights  -,  the  j 
Church  would  receive  Nothing  but  its  ov/n  from  % 
the  Land-Holder,  nor  the  Land-Holder  from  the 
>  Church,  and  neither  in  this  Cafe  wpuld  be  injured 
or  benefited. 

Although  the  State  of  Tithes  in  England  is  now 
become  more  complex  and  intricate  than  is  here . 
Hated,  owing  to  ,niany  Caufes,  which  it  is  not  my 
prefent  Bufinefs  to  aflign ;  yet  their  true  Founda- 
tion and  Original  has  been  explained,  from  whence 
the  general  Nature  of  them,  which  continues  the 
fapie,  may  be  eafily  underllood.     And  it  evidently, 

follows. 


TOTHE     PUBLIC.  loi 

follows  from  what  has  been  faid,  that  fo  far  as  the  Sect. 
Church  is  fupported  in  England  by  Tithes,  efpe-     ^' 
cially  by  Predial  Tithes,  it  is  lupported  without 
any  Expence  to  the  Inhabitants, 

Some  may  imagine  that  the  Tithes  of  mod 
Parifhes  in  England  mull  amount  to  an  enormous 
Sum,  and  that  fuch  exorbitant  Wealth  muft  have 
a  general  bad  EfFed  upon  the  Clergy.  Whether 
this  be  fo  or  not,  is,  I  confefs,  not  immediately  to 
my  prefent  Purpofe  to  confider.  And  yet,  fmcc 
I  have  entered  upon  the  Subjed,  I  would  willingly, 
if  polTible,  remove  every  Prejudice  and  Miflake 
concerning  it,  which  have  been  conceived  in  the 
Minds  of  Americans.  Every  Prejudice  relating  to 
this  Subjed,  contributes  Something  to  that  Aver- 
fion  to  Bifhops,  which  many  are  pofrefTed  of.  The 
candid  Reader  will  therefore  excufe  my  taking  No- 
tice, even  of  fuch  Prejudices  as  thefe,  as  not  alto- 
gether impertinent  to  my  general  Defign. 

In  what  Manner  Wealth  has  a  natural  Tendency 
to  affedl  the  Clergy,  may  be  concluded  from  this 
common  Aflertion,  fometimes  made  with  a  friend- 
ly Intenti,on,  but  perhaps  more  frequently  with  a 
malicious  one,  but  which  is  ftri6tly  and  literally 
true,  that  the  Clergy  are  hut  Men.  For  this  will 
diredly  lead  us  to  infer,  that  Wealth  will  operate 
upon  them,  much  in  the  fame  Manner  that  it  does 
upon  Men  in  general.  Upon  fome  it  will  have  a 
bad  Effedl,  and  upon  others  a  good  one,  according 
to  the  prevailing  Difpofition  and  Chara6ler  of  each 
Perfon  refpeiStively.  But  as  it  is  hoped  that,  in 
Proportion  to  their  Numbers,  there  is  more  true 
Piety  and  Virtue  to  be  found  amongft  them,  than- 
in  any  other  Order  of  Men  -,  fo  it  will  be  expe6ted, 
that  their  Wealth  is  proportionably  employed  to 
fetter  Purpofe.     And,  to  fay  nothing  of  what  has 

been 


102  ANAPPEAL 

Sect,  been  beflowed  m  private  Charity,  if  we  take  a  View 
X.  of  all  the  public  Inftitutions  in  the  Kingdom,  fuch 
as  Colleges,  Hofpitals  and  charitable  Societies  i 
the  Friends  of  the  Clergy  will  have  the  Pleafure  to 
find,  that  none  have  been  more  forward  than  they, 
in  affording  all  ufeful  and  charitable  AfTiftance  to 
their  Fellow- Creatures. 

As  to  the  other  Part  of  the  Suggeilion,  concer- 
ning the  Amount  of  Tithes ',  it  is  acknowledged, 
that  if  they  were  at  this  Day  paid  according  to  the 
original  Grant  of  them,  they  would,  in  moil  Pa- 
rilhes,  produce  a  large  Revenue  to  the  Church. 
But  under  the  prefent  Cufloms  and  Regulations,  I 
believe  that  there  is  not  a  Parifh  in  England  that 
pays  a  full  Tithe,  agreeably  to  the  Intention  of 
the  Donors,  in  fuch  a  Manner  that  the  Incumbent 
receives  Five  Pounds  out  of  every  Fifty  Pounds 
produced  by  the  Parifh :  But  of  this  there  is  no 
Complaint,  with  Regard  to  thofe  Parilhes,,  where 
the  Clergy  are  ftili  provided  for  fufficiently  j  and 
it  is  confelTed  that  there  are  fuch  in  the  Kingdom. 
But  the  Number  of  them  is  very  fmall,  whencom-^ 
pared  with  that  of  the  Livings  that  fall  fhortof  it. 

An  Author  of  Reputation  fays  :  "  It  is  well 
"  known  that  there  are  in  England  and  Wales  about 
"  Three  Thoufand  parochial  Cures,  none  of  which 
"  exceed  the  yearly  Value  of  Thirty  Pounds  a 
^'  Year,  Two  Thoufand  of  which  are  not  above 
'^  Twenty  Pounds  a  Year  a  piece,  and  a  Thoufand 
"  of  thofe  not  above  Twelve  Pounds  a  Year.  I, 
*'  (fays  he)  now  Minifter  to  a  Congregation  of 
"  about  Twelve  Hundred  People,  in  the  deareft 
'^  Part  of  England^  and  almoll  daily  am  employed 
''-  in  the  Bufmefs  of  the  Cure,  and  yet  have  not 
*"'  Fifty  Pounds  per  Annum  certain,  of  which  the 
^^  Tithes  are  about  Thirteen  Pounds  per  Annum^ 

*'  and 


X. 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  103 

"  and  the  Glebe  about  Twelve  Pounds  *."  Now  Sect 
can  it  be  imagined  that  the  Tithes  are  fully  paid  in 
any  of  thefe  Parifhcs,  I  mean  that  the  Tenth  Part 
of  the  yearly  Value  of  the  Lands  in  the  Parifh,  is 
paid  to  the  1  ncumbent  ?  A  landed  Eftate  of  Three 
Hundred  Pounds  per  Annum  is  efteemed  but  mo- 
derate in  any  Part  of  England  ;  and  yet  the  com- 
pleat  Tithe  of  fuch  an  Eilate  is  more,  than  all  the 
Tithes  that  are  a6lually  paid  in  the  largeft  of  Three 
Thoufand  Parifhes — as  the  proper  Tithe  of  an 
Eftate  of  but  One  Hundred  and  Twenty  Pounds 
per  Annum,  is  equal  to  the  Tithes  received  by  the 
Incumbent,  in  a  Thoufand  Pariihes. 

The  Author  mentions  his  Qwn  particular  Cafe, 
wherein  he  cannot  reiftake.  His  Cure,  I  fuppofe, 
he  meant  Margate  in  Kent^  contained  about  Twelve 
Hundred  People,  which  cannot  be  computed  at 
lefs  than  Two  Hundred  Families,  and  his  Tithe* 
amounted  to  about  Thirteen  Pounds  per  Annum, 
i.  e.  not  to  One  Shilling  and  Four  Pence  to  a  Fa- 
mily on  an  Average,  which  is  but  the  Tenth  Part 
of  Thirteen  Shillings  and  Four  Pence. 

From  this  Reprefentation,  is  it  pofTible  not  to 
fee,  that  the  Church  at  Home  has  fuffered  a  pro- 
digious Depredation  of  its  Property  ?  And  that;  in 
the  Cafe  of  Tithes,  there  are  indeed  the  greateft 
Reafons  for  Complaint — but  not  on  the  Side  of 
thofe  who  pay,  but  of  thofe  who  receive  them  ? 
And  yet,  not  fatisfied  with  the  Injuries  that  afe 
paft,  fome,  it  is  faid,  ft  ill  pay  with  Relu61:ance  the 
poor  Pittance  that  is  left !  But,  as  has  been  ob- 
served. Men  might  as  juftly  refufe  to  pay  the  Rent 
that  is  due  to  their  Landlords,  or  any  juft  Debts 
whatever.  For  what  is  faved  from  the  full  Pay- 
ment 

*  Ls'wis's  ExamifMtim  of  the  Rights,  &c.  Page  ^zz. 


104  aNAPPEAL 

Sect,  ment  of  Tithes,  where  they  are  due,  by  any  Arts 
or  Evafions,  is  only  fo  much  gained  by  the  Plunder 
of  the  Church,  already  greatly  difbreffed  in  many 
Parifhes  :  a  Species  of  Injuilice  which  has  the  true 
Nature  of  Sacrilege^  and  is  as  highly  criminal  un- 
der the  Gofpel,  and  even  the  Law  of  Nature,  as 
it  ever  was  under  the  Law  of  Mofes. 

Let  us  now  return,  and  'proceed  to  the  Appli- 
cation of  what  has  been  faid  on  the  Subjedl  of 
Tithes,  to  the  Cafe  of  America.  If  any  Perfon  in 
America  has  given  to  the  Church  the  Tithes  of  his 
Eftate,  as  pofTibly  fome  may  have  done,  although 
I  have  never  heard  of  fuch  an  Inftance-,  the  Church 
has  unqueftionably  a  Right  to  receive  it,  whether 
we  have  Bifhops  or  not.  If  any  have  given  lefs 
or  more  than  this  Proportion,  as  fome  have ;  the 
Church  has  equally  the  fame  Right  to  receive  it— 
the  Right  being  not  founded  on  the  Circumflance 
of  its  being  precifely  a  'Tenth  Part,  but  on  the  free 
Gift  and  Conveyance  of  the  legal  Proprietor. 
Whatever  has  been  given  or  conveyed  to  the 
Church,  the  Church  has  a  Right  to  demand-,  what- 
ever has  not  been  given  or  conveyed  to  the  Church, 
belongs  not  to  the  Church,  nor  can  it  be  claimed 
as  its  Property. 

The  Cafe  of  Societies,  whether  Ecclefiaflical  or 
Civil,  is  exa6lly  the  fame,  in  Regard  to  the  Acqui- 
fition  of  Property,  with  that  of  Individuals.  Nei- 
ther of  them  can  obtain  a  Right  to  the  Property 
of  others,  without  the  free  Confent  or  Conveyance 
of  the  true  Proprietors.  Thefe  Principles  are  evi- 
dently and  neceffarily  founded  on  the  Law  of  Na- 
ture, and  no  Power,  either  divine  or  human,  can 
reverfe  them.  Can  any  then  be  fo  weak  as  to  fear, 
that  the  Arrival  of  Bifhops  in  America,  will  imme- 
diately caufe  the  Nature  and  Relation  of  Things 

4:a 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  105 

to  be  changed  ?  The  Refidence  and  Power  of  more  Sect.* 
than  Twenty  Bifhops  in  England  have  no  general 
EfFedt  upon  private  Property  j  and  we  may  be  very 
certain,  that  the  Refidence  of  one  or  two  Bifhops 
in  this,  which  is  a  much  larger  Country,  without 
any  Power  of  a  temporal  Nature,  will  not  affedt  it. 
In  this  Refpedt,  at  leaft,  our  American  Bifhops 
will  be  like  the  Bifhops  of  the  primitive  Church  ; 
they  will  content  themfelves  with  fuch  a  Reception 
as  they  can  obtain  fairly,  and  claim  no  Perquifites, 
but  fuch  as  fhall  be  freely  granted  them. 

But  although  it  is  evident,  that  Tithe^  in  the 
prefent  State  of  Things,  cannot  be  claimed  in  this 
Country,  and  that  Bifhops  cannot  make  any  Change 
in  the  Nature  of  Property;  yet  fome  may  go  on  to 
obje6t,  that  the  Laws  of  England  relating  to  Tithes, 
will  take  Place  in  America,  under  an  Epifcopate. 
I  anfwer :  thofe  Laws  unlefs  they  are  now  binding 
in  America,  or  have  fome  enadling  Claufe  to  make 
them  to  be  of  Force  here  as  foon  as  we  fhali  have 
Bifhops,  neither  of  which  will  be  pretended  by  the 
Objediors,  can  no  more  operate  in  this  Country 
under  an  Epifcopate,  than  without  one.  They  can 
never  have  any  EfFedl  here,  until  an  A6b  of  Parlia- 
ment fhall  be  made  to  extend  them  to  us.  And 
it  is  abfurd  to  fuppofe,  that  fuch  an  A6t  will  be 
made ;  becaufe  all  that  it  could  efFedt,  is  fufiicient- 
ly  provided  for  already,  by  thofe  Laws  which  are 
univerfally  allowed  to  be  in  Force  in  America. 

For,  as  has  been  before  fhewn,  the  Laws  which 
relate  to  Tithes  in  England,  only  enable  the  Church 
to  recover  them  as  its  lawful  and  equitable  Pro- 
perty, but  do  not  make  them  its  Property.  There 
are  many  Eftates  in  England,  which,  notwith- 
llanding  thofe  Laws,  pay  no  Tithes  at  all.  This, 
in  particular,  is  the  Cafe  of  molt  of  the  Abbey- 

P  Laads 


«o6  AN    APPEAL 

Sect.  Lands  which  were  veiled  in  the  Crown,  in  the 
Reign  of  Henry  VIII.  on  the  Diflblution  of  the 
Monafteries.  If  then  the  Laws  in  Queftion  make 
not  Lftates  titheable  in  England,  a  Perfon  of  the 
loweft  Capacity  can  draw  the  Confequence,  that 
they  can  make  none  fo  here. 


SECT. 


TO    THE    PUBLIC. 


SECTION    XI. 

Farther  Sufpicions  and  Olje5iions  obviated^  and  thi 
Suhje5i  concluded. 


toy 


B 


UT  it  may  be  inquired,  whether  new  Laws  Sect. 

will  not  be  made,  in  Cafe  of  an  American    XI. 

Epifcopate,  tofubjedt  us  to  the  Payment  of  Tithes? 
But  of  this  there  can  be  no  more  Reafon  to  be  ap- 
prehenfive,  than  if  Bifhops  were  not  to  be  fent 
hither.  Tithes  are  not  paid  in  England  to  Bifhops, 
but  to  the  Incumbents  of  Parilhes;  and  the  Clergy 
in  this  Country  will  have  no  greater  Need  of  Tithes 
after  the  Arrival  of  Bifhops,  than  they  now  have, 
and  have  had  always.  In  fevcral  Provinces  on  this 
Continent,  the  Clergy  are  regularly  and  well  fup- 
ported :  and  in  the  others,  we  have  no  Profpedt 
but  Hill  to  depend,  in  a  great  Meafure,  upon  the 
Charity  of  our  Bencfadors  at  Home,  until  God 
fliall  either  enable  or  difpofe  our  Friends  in  this 
Country  to  do  more  for  us. 

But  as  Ignorance  is  ever  fufpicious,  it  may  far, 
ther  be  afked.  Shall  we  not  be  taxed  in  this  Country 
for  the  Support  of  Bifhops,  if  any  fhall  be  appoin- 
ted ?  I  anfwer.  Not  at  all.  But  Ihould  a  general 
Tax  be  laid  upon  the  Country,  and  thereby  a  Sum 
be  raifed  fuflicient  for  the  Purpofe  :  and  even  fup- 
pofing  we  Ihould  have  three  Bifhops  on  the  Con- 
tinent, which  are  the  moft  that  have  been  men- 
tioned-, yet  I  believe  fuch  a  Tax  would  not  amount 
to  more  than  Four  Pence  in  One  Hundred  Pounds. 
Ajid  this  would  be  no  mighty  Hardfhip  upon  the 
Country.   He  that  could  think  much  of  giving  the 

Six 


io8  AN     APPEAL 

Sect.  Six  Thoufandth  Part  of  his  Income  to  any  Ufe^ 
•   which  the  Legiflature  of  his  Country  ihould  afTign, 
deferves  not  to  be  confidered  in  the  Light  of  a  good 
Subjed,  or  Member  of  Society. 

But  no  fuch  Tax  is  intended,  nor,  I  truft,  will 
be  wanted.  It  has  been  propofed  from  the  very 
Beginning,  that  the  American  Bifhops  fhould  be 
fupported  without  apy  Expence  to  this  Countiy. 
A  Fund  accordingly  has  been  eflablifhed,  for  this 
particular  Purpofe,  for  more  than  half  a  Century 
paii,  urder  the  Influence  and  Dire6Vion  of  the  So- 
ciety for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel ;  and  many 
worrhy  Perfons  have  contributed  generoully  and 
largely  to  the  Increafe  of  it.  I  can  recoUecl  as  I 
am  writing,  the  following  Inllances  :  Archbifliop 
^ennifon,  who  has  been  dead  upwards  of  Fifty 
Years,  bequeathed  to  it  One  Thoufand  Pounds 
Sterling  •,  Sir  Jonathan  'Trelawney-,  near  the  fame 
Time,  another  Thoufand  Pounds ;  the  Lady  Eli- 
zabeth Haftings^  Five  Hundred  Pounds  -,  Biihop 
Butler^  Five  Hundred  Pounds ;  Bifliop  Benfon^ 
Two  Hundred  Pounds^  Biihop  Ofhaldefton^  Five 
Hundred  Pounds  -,  and  Mr.  Fijher^  One  Thoufan^ 
Pounds.  Thefe,  and  all  other  Sums  which  the 
Society  have  received  for  thJ3  Ufe,  were  put  into 
the  public  Funds  as  foon  as  paid  into  their  Hands, 
and  have  been  accumulating  ever  fmce,  excepting 
what  they  expended  at  Burlington^  in  the  Manner 
that  has  been  mentioned.  If  this  Stock  is  not  fuf- 
ficient  for  the  Support  of  a  proper  Epifcopate  in 
America,  I  imagine  the  Difficulty  in  making  it  fuf- 
ficient,  will  not  be  great.  For,  as  many  have  given 
liberally  on  the  remote  Profpe5f  of  its  being  needed, 
it  is  not  to  be  doubted  but  Benefadors  will  be 
raifed  up,  when  AfTiftance  ihall  be  called  for  by  a 
frefent  Necejftty, 

Another 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  G.  109 

Another  Objeftion  has  been  made  by  fome  Per-  Shct 
fons,  to  the  following  Purport ;  That  if  BiHiops 
arc  once  fettled  in  America,  although  m  the  Man- 
ner  we  now  propofe,  there  will  probably  be  an 
Augmentation  of  their  Power,  as  foon  as  Circum- 
ftan°eswill  admit  of  it:  and  what  is  eafy  and  m- 
ofFenfive  in  its  Beginning,  may  become  burthen- 
fome  and  oppreffive  in  its  End.     But  at  this  Rate 
there  can  be  no  End  of  objefting.     tor  if  every 
foffibk  ill  Effea  of  a  Thing,  although  confeffedly 
proper  in  itfelf  and  harmlefs  in  its  natural  Tendency, 
may  be  made  an  Argument  againft  it,  there  is  no- 
thing that  can  efcape.     Arguments  of  this  Sort 
may  be  as  fairly  and  properly  alledged-againlt 
a  religious  Toleration,    which  is   now   generally 
effeemed  by  Proteftants,  to  be  a  natural  Right  ot 
Men,  and  a  very  important  one  of  Chriftians — 
^(^ainft  admitting  thofe  who  diffent  from  the  na- 
tional Religion  to  any  Degree  of  civil  or  jnihtary 
Power,  to  which,  indeed,   they   have  no  natural 
Rio-ht— againft  allowing  the  common  People  the 
Ufe  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  or  the  Liberty  of  exa- 
mining any  Points  of  Religion  or  Government— 
ao-ainft  futFering  any  to  receive  a  learned  Educa- 
tion, &c.  for  none  can  tell  what  ill  Confequences 
and  Abufes  may  follow,  in  fome  future  Period, 
from    thefe   Conceflions  and   Indulgences.     Ihe 
Truth  is.  Men  are  not  to  be  terrified  or  influenced 
by  Fears  of  fuch  Confequences  as  are  barely  pof- 
fible  ■  but  to  confider  what  is  reafonable  and  pro- 
per in  itfelf,  and  what  EfFefts  will  probably  and 
naturally  follow. 

That  an  American  Epifcopate  is  reafonable  and 
proper  in  itfelf,  and  that  fuch  an  Epifcopate  as  is 
now  propofed  has  a  natural  Tendency  to  produce 
no  ill  Confequences,  has,  Itruft,  been  fufficiently 

preyed. 


^'°  AN    APPEAL 

«•    thatBifhops  m  this  Country  will  acquire  ?ny  In- 
fluence or  Po^yer    but  what  fhall  arife  from  a  ge- 
neral Op,nion  of  their  Abilities  and  Integrity,  a^d 
a  Conviftion  of  their  Ufefulnefs  ;  and  of  this    no 
Perfons  need  dread  the  Confeque'nces     But  £uld 
the  Government  fee  fit  hereafter  to  inveft  them 
With  fome  Degree  of  civil  Power  worthy  of  theTr 
Acceptance,  which  it  is  impoffible  to  fay  they  wHl 
ev°e;:m"S  ''"'  ''  -  APP-ance'th7tIey 
Favou    of^R  f^"'  "°  new  Powers  will  be  created  in 
wn^L  ./  u    u^''-  "  ''  inconceivable  that  any 
would  thereby  be  injured.     All  that  the  Happinefs 
and  Safety  of   the  Public   require,    is,    that  the 
legiflative  and  executive  Power  be  placed  in  the 
Hands  of  fuch  Perfons,  as  are  poleS  of    he 
greateft  Abilities,  Integrity  and  Pnidence  :  a„d'c 

defe^^el^^SX^^^^ 

To  explain  in  what  iVTanner  civil  Power   if 
vefted  m  Amencan  Bilhops,  would  be  moSdl 
to  operate,  I  beg  Leave  to  put  the  following  pkn 
and  famihar  Cafe.     Let  us  fuppofe  a  cKan 
yjt  ??f '"I'  °^  ^"^  Den^o^mination,  S" 

Would  the  Perfons  who  are  immediately  concer- 
ned m  his  Proceedings,  be  otherwife  affefted,  than 

1^  w.^  f'^":  ^'^J^'"^"  •  I^  cannot  be  preten 
ded.  Whether  it  would  be  proper  to  giveS  a 
In  r/p"  ^«^"y  «f;heCler^,^is  another  Point! 
In  molt  Parts  of  this  Country  there  can  now  be  no 
Occafion  for  It,  and  where  it  is  not  evidently  ne- 
cciTary  for  the  Good  of  the  Public,  I  know  that 
ome  of  the  Clergy  would  refufe  it,'  and  I  bd  eve 
there  are  but  very  few  that  would  defire  it.  If  then 
It  could  be  of  no  great  Confequence  to  the  Publi? 


©r 


TO    THE    PUBLIC.  ,,x 

or  to  Individuals,  whether  a  Juftice  of  the  Peace  Sect. 
be  a  Clergyman  or  a  Layman,  fnppofmg  their  ^^-  * 
Abilities  and  perfonal  Characters  to  be  equal ;  fo, 
if  Bifhops  Ihould  be  invefled  with  a  proportionable 
Degree  of  civil  Authority,  neither  would  there  be 
any  great  Reafons  for  Complaint.  But  after  all, 
nothing  of  this  Kind  is  at  prefent  forefeen  or  inten! 
ded;  and  it  is  abfolutely  determined  that  no  Powers 
fhall  be  given  them,  that  can  interfere  with  the 
civil  or  religious  Rights  of  any. 

But  there  is  no  Occafion  for  dwelling  on  Parti- 
culars of  this  Nature.     The  real  and  only  Plan  on 
which  It  IS  agreed  to  fettle  Bifhops  in  America 
when  his  Majefly  Ihall  fee  fit  to  appoint  them,  has 
been  fairly  flated  and  explained  in  the  preceedino- 
Pages.     This  Plan  is  now  propofed  to  the  Public^ 
to  fee  whether  any  reafonable  Objedions  can  be 
offered  againfl  it.     But  whatever  may  be  objeaed 
againfl  any  different  Plan,  is  not  to  the  Purpofe. 
The  Friends  of  the  Church  are  defirous  to  know, 
what  can  be  faid  or  fuggefled  againfl  an  American 
iLpilcopate,  in  the  Form  wherein  it  is  propofed  to 
fettle  It;  and  they  who  have  any  Thing  to  offer 
are  requefled  to  confine  themfelves  to  this  parti' 
cular  Point:  For  to  objed  aeainfl  Bifhops  in  this 
Country,  under  a  Form  wherein  it  is  determined 
not  to  fettle  them,  is  as  foreign  to  the  Purpofe,  as 
to  objedl  agamfl  the  Authority  of  the  Archbifhop 
of  Gnefna^  or  the  Pope  of  i^^/;?^. 

I  have  now  taken  Notice  of  all  the  Objeaions 
that  have  been  made  againfl  fending  Bifhops  to 
America,  fo  far  as  they  have  come  to  my  Know- 
ledge i  and  it  mufl  be  left  to  the  Reader  ta  ludo-e 
whether,  with  Regard  to  the  Epifcopate  in  Que* 
Ilion,  they  are  not  unreafonable  and  groundlefs. 
It  IS  ladeed  ppffiblg  that  gther  Obje^igns  may  have 

been 


112  AN     APPEAL 

Sect,  been  offered,  or  may  be  hereafter  fuggefled,  againft 
^^'  American  Bifhops  ;  but  I  am  perfuaded  that  upon 
Examination  they  will  generally  be  found  to  be 
Proofs,  rather  of  the  Dexterity  or  111 -Will  of  the 
Inventors,  than  of  the  real  Fears  and  Uneafinefs 
of  the  Inhabitants.  Ar  ful  Men  may  raife  Objec- 
tions and  Difficulties  in  the  plainefb  Cafes,  and 
can  make  any  Ihing  an  Argument  againft  any 
Thing,  in  a  Way  that  Ihall  appear  plaufible,  to 
thofe  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  Legerdemain 
of  Cavilers  and  Sophifts.  But  whoever  employs 
his  Talents  in  this  Exercife,  is  as  unworthy  of  the 
public  Attention,  as  the  Child  that  engages  in 
Crambo  or  Pufh-Pin. 

Thus,  having  reprefented  theDiftrefs  the  Church 
of  England  in  America  is  under,  for  Want  of  an 
Epifcopate — having  attempted  to  prove,  by  various 
Arguments  and  Confiderations,  the  Propriety  and 
Fitnefs  and  NecefTity  of  relieving  it,  and  of  allow- 
ing it  the  'fame  Advantages  which  are  granted  to 
all  other  Denominations  of  Chriftians  in  his  Ma- 
jefty's  American  Dominions— and  having  explained 
the  Nature  and  Extent  of  that  Authority  with 
which  our  Bilhops  will  be  invefted,  when  it  fhall 
be  thought  proper  to  fend  them,  and  fhewn  that 
fuch  an  Appointment  can  produce  no  Harm  to  the 
Diflenters,  nor  afford  juft  grounds  of  Uneafinefs 
or  Complaint  to  any ;  I  muft  now  haften  to  a  Con- 
clufiQn,  fubmiting  what  has  beert  offered  to  the 
Judgment  of  the  Reader.  Nothing  has  been  af- 
ferted,  in  the  Courfe  of  this  Work,  but  what  the 
Author  believes,  upon  good  Evidence,  to  be  true; 
no  Argument  has  been  advanced,  but  with  a  full 
Perfuafion  of  its  being  pertinent  and  conclufive. 
He  looks  upon  the  Subjed  to  be  of  uhe  utmoit 

Impor- 


TO     THE     PUBLIC.  113 

Importance;  and  he  has  no  Difpofition  to  trifle  Sect, 
with  it,  or  with  the  Public  to  which  he  appeals. 

If  thefe  Papers  Ihoiild  have  the  Honour  of 
coming  into  the  Hands  of  any  of  thofe  Perfons, 
from  whofe  Power  or  Influence  an  American  Epif- 
copate  is  in  any  Meafure  expected ;  the  Author 
humbly  begs,  that  the  Caufe  which  he  has  under- 
taken to  plead,  may  not  fuffer,  in  tljeir  Eftima- 
tion,  from  the  Unfkilfulnefs  of  its  prefent  Advo- 
cate. Although  he  greatly  diflrufts  his  own 
Management,  he  has  no  Diffidence  of  the  Caufe 
itfelf.  He  believes  it  to  be  the  Caufe  of  Truth, 
of  Juftice,  and  of  Chriflianity,  and  as  fuch  he 
moft  refpe6tfully  and  fubmifTively  recommends  it, 
imploring  their  Attention  to  fo  extraordinary  and 
important  a  Cafe,  as  that  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land in  America. 

It   need  not  be   repeated,  that  unlefs  Bifhops 
(hould  be  fpeedily  fent  us,  we  can  forefee  nothing 
but  the  Ruin  of  the  Church  in  this  Country.     It 
need  not  be  fuggefted,  that  fuch  an  Event  is  too 
much  to  be  hazarded,  when  no  Good  can  be  ex- 
peded   to   arife  from  fuch  a  Rifque,  and  much 
Evil  will  probably  follow  it — Evil,  which  it  is  the 
unqueftionable  Duty  of  thofe  to  j)revent,  who  are 
intrufled  with  the  Interefts  of  the  Nation.     The 
Church  of  England  here,  is  fo  infeparably  con- 
ne6led  with  the  Church  at  Home,  or  rather,  is  fo 
elTentially  the  fame  with  it,  that  it  muft  ever  fub- 
fift  or  perifh,  by  the  fame  Means.     The  Caufes 
indeed,  which  deftroy  it  here,  may  be  local,  and 
not  immediately  operate  in  England;  but  then, 
that  Inattention  and  Negligence  in   our  national 
Superiors,  which  would  fuffer  it  to  be  deftroy ed 
in  the  Colonies,  muft  have  a  general  Effedl,  and 
can  produce  no  Good  to  the  fame  Church  in  the 

Q^  Mother- 


XL 


114  ANAPPEAL 

Sect;  Mother-Country,  Here,  the  Church  has  been 
long  flruggling  under  fuch  an  increafing  Load  of 
Difficulties,  and  is  now  in  fuch  a  State  of  Oppref- ' 
fion,  as  to  deferve  the  Compaffion  of  the  whole 
Chriitian  World.  From  our  own  Nation,  and  the 
Guardians  of  its  Interefts,  it  conceives  itfelf  to  be 
intitled  to  more;  as  there  is  a  Concurrence  of 
every  Kind  of  Motive  for  prevailing  upon  them, 
to  afford  it  the  Relief  which  is  fo  effentially  needed. 
The  common  Principles  of  Juflice,  and  the  moll 
facred  Obligations  of  the  Chriftian  Religion,  have 
been  Ihewn  to  require  this  at  their  Hands. 

Nor  need  the  Author  ufe  many  Words  to  prove, 
that  Confiderations  even  of  a  political  Nature,  are 
fufficient  in  this  Cafe,  to  prevail  with  thofe  who 
are  infenfible  to  other  Motives.  The  Church  of 
England,  in  its  external  Polity,  is  fo  happily  con- 
neded  and  interwoven  with  the  Civil  Confhitution, 
that  each  mutually  fupports  and  is  fupported  by 
the  other.  .  The  greateft  Friendiliip  and  Harmony 
have  ever  fubfiflea  between  them  •,  and  in  that  me- 
morable Period,  wherein. the  Ruin  of  the  one  was 
effeded,  the  Defeu6lion  of  the  other  immediately 
followed.  The  Refurredion  of  the  one,.^  after- 
wards clofely  attended  the  Reftoration  of  the  other; 
and  he  that  h.as  a  Regard  for  the  Happi^efs  of 
either,  can  nev«r  wiih  t^  fee  the  Experiment  re- 
peated, either  in  England  or  her  Colonies* 

It  is  not  pretended  that  the  C[iara6ter  and  Man- 
ners of  the  prefent  Times  are,  in  this  Jlefpedl,  the 
fame,  as  in  the  Period  refcred  to  ;.  nor  that  thofe 
Vv^ho  are  Enemies  to  Epifcopacy  in  this  Age,  are 
Enemies  to  Monarchy,  as  was  frequently  the  Cafe 
formerly.  Xhe  contrary  is  evident,  in  innume- 
rable Inflances.  There  are  many  Britifh  Subjects, 
both  at  Home  and  in  ijae  Plancations,  who  reje6t 

Epif- 


T  O     T  H  E     P  U  B  L  I  C.  115 

Epifcopacy,  and  yet  are  warm  Advocates  for  our  Sect. 
happy  Civil  Conftitution.  It  is  therefore  rafn  and  ^^* 
injurious  to  charge  any  with  Difaffe6tion  to  the 
Government,  at  this  Day,  becaufe  they  dilTent 
from  the  national  Religion.  But  notwithftanding, 
Epifcopacy  and  Moi,  rchy  are,  in  their  Frame  and 
Conftitution,  beft  fuited  to  each  other.  Epifco- 
pacy can  never  thrive  in  a  Republican  Govern- 
ment, nor  Republican  Principles  in  an  Epifcopal 
Church,  For  the  fame  Reafons,  in  a  mixed  Mo-- 
narchy,  no  Form  of  Ecclefiaftical  Government  can 
ib  exadlly  harmonize  with  the  State,  as  that  of  a 
qualified  Epifcopacy, 

And  as  they  are  mutually  adapted  to  each  other 
fo  they  are  mutually  introdu6live  of  each  other. 
He  that  prefers  Monarchy  in  the  State,  is  more 
likely  to  approve  of  Epifcopacy  in  the  Church, 
than  a  rigid  Republican,  On  the  other  Hand, 
he  that  is  for  a  Parity  and  a  popular  GovernmenC 
in  the  Church,  will  more  eafily  be  led  to  approve 
of  a  fimilar  Form  of  Government  in  the  State, 
how  little  foever  he  may  fufped:  it  himfelf.  It  is 
not  then  to  be  wondered,  if  our  Civil  Rulers  have 
always  confidered  Epifcopacy  as  the  fureft  Friend 
of  Monarchy  *,  and  it  may  reafonably  be  expelled 
from  thofe  in'  Authority,  that  they  will  fupport 
and  afTift  the  Church  in  America,  if  from  no  other 
Motives,  yet  from  a  Regard  to  the  State,  with 
which  it  has  fo  friendly  and  clofe  an  Alliance, 

But  there  is  no  Reafon  to  doubt,  but  every 
proper  Motive  will  have  its  Effe6t,  upon  thofe 
wife  and  illuftrious  Patriots,  who  now  condudl  our 
public  Affairs.  We  no  more  fufpeft  the  Goodnefs 
of  their  Difpofitfon,  than  the  Reafonablenefs  of  the 
Caufe,  for  which  we  are  fo  anxious.  All  that  we 
can  bejuftly  apprehenfive  of,  is,  that  to  thofe  who 
-  refidt 


^^^  ANAPPEAL 

S£c/r.  refide  at  fuch  aDiflahce,  the  Neceffity  of  relieving 
the  Church  m  America,  with  all  poffihle  Speed,  may 
not  be  fo  evident,  as  to  thofe  who  are  Eye-Wit- 
nelTes  of  its  fufFering  Condition.  We  therefore  beg 
Leave  to  fuggeft  this—and  earneftly  to  requeft, 
that  the  Relief,  which  we  doubt  not  is  intended, 
niay  htfpeedily  granted.  The  ill  EfFeds  of  delay- 
ing It,  may  be  irretrievable.  The  prefent  favour- 
able Opportunity  may  be  foon  loft,  and  then  De- 
Ipair  will  fucceed  our  difappointed  Expedtation. 

Jo  thofe  who  have  been  averfe  to  American 
Bifhops,  and  hitherto  have  fliewn  a  Difpofition  to 
oppofe  their  Settlement,  I  have  but  a  Word  more 
to  offer..   Their  Prejudices,  we  charitably  believe, 
rnuft  have  arifen  altogether  fi;;om  Mifapprehenfions 
of  the  Cafe,  and  from  the  Fears  which,  from  thence, 
have  been  conceived,  of  their  becoming  Sufferers, 
either  in  their  Property  or  Privileges,  by  the  Epif- 
copate  in  Queftion.     The  Subjed:  is  here  placed 
m  Its  true  Light,  and  thereby,  it  is  trufted,  their 
Mifapprehenfions  are  fairly  removed,  and  their  con-  , 
fequent  Fears  are  fh^wn  to  be  groundlefs.    Inftead  j 
therefore  of  diftrefTing  themfelves,  or  of  oppofing  ' 
the  Church  in  the  Cafe  before  us,  we  flatter  our-  ^ 
felves  that  they  will  ad:  the  Past,  wl^ich  Generofity 
and  Candour  prefcribe,  and  behave  towards  us  as  , 
Fellow-Chnftians  and  Eroteftants  ought  to  behave  J 
to  one  another.     If  they  have  been  led  by  Igno-  " 
ranee  or  Mifinform^tion  to  oppofe  a  Caufe,  which 
they  now  find  to  be  juft  ;  their  Duty  obliges  them 
to  be  careful  for  the  future,  at  the  very  leaft,  not  i 
to  obftrud  it.     If  th^y  are  in  R^lity  the  Friends 
of  Truth,  and  Juftice,  and  Liberty,  which  thc\^ 
pretend  and  we  are  willing  to  believe  them  to  be, 
they  muft  be  heartily  difpofed  to  adl  a  friendly 
Part  tov/ards  us,  with  Regard  to  an  Epifcopate-, 

which 


T  O    T  H  E    P  U  B  L  I  C.  117 

which  Difpofition  will  add  greatly  to  their  own  Se  cr. 
Happinefs,  as  we)!  as  to  ours.  They  know,  by  ^^* 
Experience,  the  ineflimable  Value  of  thofe  Advan- 
tages, for  which  we  have  petitioned ;  and  if  we  are 
as  fairly  intitled  to  them  as  any  other  Chriftian  So- 
cieties, they  ought  not  to  envy,  but  to  take  Plea- 
fure  in,  our  Enjoyment  of  them. 

If  all  the  religious  Denominations  in  America, 
by  the  general  Conftitution  of  the  BritiHi  Colonies, 
are  to  be  treated  on  the  Footing  of  a  perfe6t  Equa- 
lity, for  which  fome  have  contended;  then,  the 
Church  of  England  is  as  fully  intitled  to  the  com- 
pleat  Enjoyment  of  its  own  Difcipline  and  Inftitu- 
tions,  as  any  other  Chriftians.  If  any  one  Deno- 
mination is  intitled  to  a  Superiority  above  others, 
as  is  believed  by  many  *,  then,  the  Claim  of  the 
Church  of  England  to  this  Preference,  is  not  to  be 
difputed.  One  of  thefe  mufl  be  undoubtedly  the 
Cafe ;  and  on  either  Suppofition,  to  endeavour  to 
prevent  the  Epifcopate  we  have  afked  for,  is  In- 
juftice  and  Cruelty. 

If  any  fhould  remain  unconvinced  by  the  Argu- 
ments that  have  been  advanced,  or  unfatisfied  with 
the  Solution  of  Objedbions  that  has  been  attempted, 
or  ftiould,ha¥«  any  new  Obje6lions  to  offer ;  the 
Author  will  be  ready,  in  Cafe  ot  a  decent  Notifi- 
cation of  it,  to  reconfider  the  former,  and  to  exa- 
mine the  latter — fhould  it  be  thought  proper  by  his 
Friends,  upon  whofe  Judgment,  in  fuch  Matters, 
he  will  always  depend  more,  than  upon  his  own. 
For  the  prefent,  he  begs  Leave  to  conclude  in  the 
Words  of  an  eminent  Writer  of  the  laft  Century, 
as  they  exadly  reprefent  his  own  Difpofition  and 
Sentiments :  ''  I  fhall  heartily  befeech  all  thofe 
"  who  fhall  plcafe  to  read  what  has  been  written, 
J'  that  if  they  meet  with  any  Thing  therein,  which 

"  either 


ii8  AN    A  P  P  E  A  L,    &c. 

Shot.  «  either  is  lefs   fitly  fpoken,  or  not  clearly  evi- 

denced,  they  would  give  me  Notice  of  it  in  fuch 

^^  a  charitable  and  Chriftian  Way,  as  I  may  be  the 

^^  better  for  it,  and  they  not  the  w^r/^.     Which 

^^  Favour  if  they  pleafe  to  do  me,  they  Ihall  be 

..  jelcome  to  me  as  an  Angel  of  God,  fcnt  to  con- 

dutt  me  from  the  Lanes  of  Error  into  the  open 

,,  Ways  of  Truth.     And  doing   thefe  Chriftian 

Offices  to  one  another,  we  fliall  by  God's  good 

Leave  and  Bleffing,  not  only  hold  the  Bond  of 

^^  external  Peace,  but  alfo  in  due  Time  be  made 

„  partakers  of  the  Spirit  of  Unity.     Which  BleA 

"  u"^^f.  .t,^'-^'"'^  '^""''^  gracioufly  beftowon 
^  his  afflided  Church,  is  no  fmall  Part  of  our  De- 
^^  votions  m  the  public  Liturgy;  where  we  are 
„  taught  to  pray  unto  Almighty  God,  that  he 
«  ^ould  pleafe  continually  to  infpire  his  miverfal 
^^  Church  with  the  Spirit  of  ^ruth.  Unity  and  Con- 

"  T  I  1  ^''^"^  ^^'^*  "-^^  *^^y  "^^^'h  ^0  confers 
«  T,  ^yJ'^f^''  m^-y  ^gree  alfo  in  the  Truth  of  his 
■^^  holy  Wora,  and  live  in  Unity  and  godly  Love. 
^^  Unto  which  Prayer  he  hath  but  iittle  of  a  Chri- 
Itian,  which  doth  not  heartily  {3:^,  Amen." 


A  n 


(    "9    ) 


A    N 


APPENDIX. 


SINCE  the  drawing  up  of  thefe  Papers,  I  have 
met  with  a  Pamphlet  'intitled,  A  Demonftra-  , 
iion  of  the  uninterrupted  Succejjion  and  holy  Confecra- 
tion  of  the  fir fi  Englifio  Bifhops^  being  an  E^tra^  from 
Mr,  Ward's  Second  Canto  of  his  England's  Reforma- 
tion :  with  an  Intro  dilution^  Notes  and  an  Appendix^ 
containing  the  folemn  funeral  Song  cf  the  native  Irifh. 
Printed  M,dcc,lxvi.  This  curious  Performance 
has  been  printed  with  ^reat  Secrefy,  probably  in 
Philadelphia^  although  the  Place  and  Name  of  the 
Printer  be  not  mentioned,  and  as  fecretly  difperfed 
timongft  the  Inhabitants  cf  the  remote  Parts  of  the 
Country.  The  Defign  of  it  is  to  ridicule  the  Of- 
fice and  SuccelTion  of  our  Englifli  Bifhops,  and 
the  Occafion  of  it  appears  to  have  been  the  late 
Application  made  by  lb  me  of  the  Clergy,  for  Ame- 
rican Bifliops. 

The  Editor,  in  his  Introdu61;ion,  which  he  has 
endeavoured  to  fet  to  the  Tune  of  Ward's  Canto 
in  doggerel  Verfe,  ahfurdly  alTumes  the  Chara6ler 
of  a  ChurchmoMy  as  he  introduces  his  Hero  to  de- 
fend, what  he  even  profeffes  to  expofe ;  whereas  a 
Regard  to  Confiftency  of  Charafier,  which  is  as 
neceffary  in  Works  of  Drollery  and  Humour  as  in 
any  other,  ftiould  have  led  him  to  appear  in  his 

true 


120  AN    APPENDIX. 

true  Shape  of  an  Anti-Epfcopallan^  or  rather  of  an 
Anti-Proteftant. 

For  the  Story  of  the  Nag'^s-Head  Confecration, 
the  only  Engine  with  which  this  vain  Mortal  ad- 
vances to  attack  the  Church,  is  well  known  to 
have  been  a  Fidlion  of  the  Papifts^  invented  Forty 
Years  after  the  Time  wherein  it  is  faid  to  have 
been  tranfafted,  and  when  it  was  hoped  that  no 
diredl;  Proof  could  be  made  of  its  Falfity.  But 
he,  who  frequently  "  difappointeth  the  Devices  of 
*'  the  Crafty,"  fo  ordered  it  in  his  Providence, 
that  what  was  thus  infamoufly  projeded  to  dif- 
honour  the  Church  of  England,  is  an  eternal  Mo- 
nument of  Reproach  to  the  Church  that  invented 
it,  as  it  muft  ever  difgrace  thofe  who  endeavour  to 
propagate  it.  But  that  the  Reader  may  better 
judge  of  it,  an  Account  of  the  whole  Affair,  as 
given  by  Bijhop  Burnet^   is  hereunto  fut)joined. 

The  Extract  from  Ward^  which  makes  the 
Body  and  even  the  Soul  of  the  Pamphlet,  is  no- 
thing elfe  than  a  Repetition  of  this  villainous  Slan- 
der of  the  Nag^s-Head  Confecration  in  wretched 
Rhyme,  cooked  up  and  larded  with  fuch  unfavoryi 
Ingredients,  as  muil  render  it  offenfive  to  every 
Perfon  of  the  lead  Delicacy,  and  can  agree  only 
with  fuch  Stomachs  as  can  bear  the  Ranknefs 
of  Train  Oil.  It  is  now  generally  agreed  that 
Ridicule,  even  when  managed  with  the  greateft 
Dexterity,  is  not  the  Tell  of  Truth.  If  this  Edi- 
tor thinks  otherwife,  let  him  try  the  Experiment 
with  One  or  Two  keener  and  better  Pieces,  which 
are  recommended  for  the  Improvement  of  him 
and  his  Friends,  if  peradventure  he  has  any,  I 
mean  Butler's  Hudibras  and  Swiff  s  'Tale  of  a  Tub. 

The  Appendix  is  intitled  Remarks  on  the  pre- 
ceedifip-  Piece  j  wherein  the  Editor  condefcends  to 

come 


A  N    A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X.  121 

i  come  down  to  the  Level  of  tame  Profc,  and  ad- 
vances a  Number  of  AfTertions  tending  to  difcredit 
Epifcopacy,  which  have  been  frequently  and  effec- 
tually confuted,  and  fliewn  to  be  falfe.  For  the 
Support  of  them,  he  refers  to  a  Lift  of  Authors, 
who  have  been  often  and  abundantly  anfwered, 
without  taking  the  leaft  Notice  of  the  Anfwers  ; 
and  concludes  with  a  doleful  Story  of  a  poor 
Clergyman  in  Ireland  who  was  fuppofed  to  be 
frightened  to  Death,  and  a  Lamentation  of  the 
wild  Irifti  on  the  Occafion.  This,  wc  may  chari- 
tably fuppofe,  was  intended  for  an  Exploit  of  Wit ; 
but  it  will  puzzle  a  Reader  of  ordinary  Sagacity, 
to  difcover  any  Thing,  either  in  the  Imagination, 
or  Execution  of  it,  that  can  juftly  intitle  it  to  this 
Chara(5ler. 

His  whole  Performance  is  clofed  with  this  grace- 
ful Period :  "  I  fhall  conclude  my  Remarks  with 
"  only  adding,  that  /  wijh  there  may  be  no  Occa- 
fion to  repeat  this  folemn  Dirge  over  your  Bifhop 
.^ 1.'     T„^ 3.,jn.: —  J'  '  T^u^  TA ^^  u^*.^  :^ 


<€ 


Upon 


his  Introdu6lion."     The  Danser  here  in 


timated  there  is  no  great  Reafon  to  fear,  as  it  is 
ftiggefted,  not  by  any  public  Appearances,  but 
by  the  Ferocity  and  Rancour  of  his  own  Heart,  of 
which  his  whole  Performance  is  a  Proof.  But 
does  he  not  fay  that  he  wijljes  the  Occafion  may 
not  happen  ?  Aye,  indeed  does  he ;  but  any  one 
that  reads  his  Pamphlet,  will  think  it  to  be  as  cha- 
ritable and  polite  Treatment  as  he  deferves,  to  re- 
ply to  him  in  the  Words  of  Valerian^  an  old  honeft 
Capuchin,  "  Mentiris  impudent ijftme,"^ 

Upon  the  Whole  ^  I  can  venture  to  pronounce 
the  Performance  before  me  to  be  the  moft  unfair, 
impudent  and  malicious  Thing  I  have  met  with ; 
and  I  am  perfuaded  that  thofe  whom  he  intended 
to  ferve,  or  rather  to  deceive,  will  not  thank  him 

R  for 


122  AN    APPENDIX. 

for  his  Trouble.  For  fo  long  as  Men,  in  any  to- 
lerable Serife,  continue  to  be  reafonable  Creatures, 
fuch  Management  mull  be  efleemed  a  Difgrace  to 
the  Caufc  which  it  aims  at  promoting. 

If  this  Perfon  is  alarmed   at  the  Prolpe6t  of 
Bifhops  in  America,  Why  does  he  not  ftand  forth 
fairly  and  produce  his  Obje6lions  ?  In  the  Name 
of  Goodnefs,  let  him  fhew,  if  he   cart,  that  the 
Church  of  England  in  this  Country  has  no  Need 
of  Bifhops— or  that  Ihe  has  no  Right  to  expedl 
that  Bifhops  will  be  granted  her— or  that  fuch  an 
Indulgence  will  harm  the  DifTenters.     But  con- 
fcious  of  his  Weaknefs,  fhould  it  be  put  to  a  fair 
Trial,  he  dares  not  venture  into  the  open  Field. 
Like  a  Cherokee^  he  choofes  rather  to  fkulk  in  the 
Dark,  and  to  do  what  Mifchief  he  can  amongfl 
fuch  of  the  Inhabitants  as  he  fufpeds  to  be  moft 
weak  and  unguarded.     Contrary  to  the  Rules  of 
Honour,  and  the  Laws  of  all  civilized  Nations, 
like  his  Brother-Savages  he  attacks  with  poifoned 
Arrows  •,  and  therewith  he  too  is  fupplied  by  the 
inveterate  Enemies  of  the  Proteflant  Interefl.  For, 
as  has  been  obferved,  this  Nag's-Head  Affair,  was 
altogether  a  mean  and  wicked  Contrivance  of  the 
Papills,  to  blaft   the  Reputation  of  the  Englifh 
Reformation.     TVard  was  a  notorious  Papifl,  and' 
his  whole  Book,  from  which  this  Extra^l:  is  bor- 
rowed, was  written  for  the  very  Purpofe  of  fettino- 
the  Reformed  Religion  in  a  contemptible  Licrht! 
What  mufl  the  World  then  think  of  fuch  a  p'ub-  ' 
lication  as  this .?  Or,  of  a  Caufe,  that  can  require 
fuch  an  Advocate,  and  fuch  Arts,  to  fupport  it  ? 

I  will  not  give  this  poetico-profaic  Haberdafher 
any  farther  Difturbance,  but  leave  him  in  the  Pof-    i 
fefTion  of  as  much  Tranquillity  and  Satisfadion  as    ! 
fuch  a  Produdion^  with  the  Confeioufnefs  of  his 


own 


A  N     A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X.  123 

own  evil  Intentions,  can  afford  him.  Had  his 
Views  been  honeft^  with  whatever  Abilities  he  had 
acquited  himfelf,  his  Reward  would  have  been 
greater.  For  there  is  much  Truth  in  the  Obfer- 
vation  of  Father  Garaffe,  fpeaking  of  thofe  Au- 
thors that  write  with  a  good  Defign,  that  "  v/ben 
^''  a  poor  Genius  toils  incefiantly  to  produce  fome 
^'  worthlefs  ndiculous  Piece,  and  for  that  Reafon 
"  will  never  obtain  the  public  Applaufe,  yet  that 
"  all  his  Pains  might  not  pafs  unrewarded,  God 
"  gives  him  a  Seif-Satisfa6lion,  for  which  it  v/ould 
"  be  an  Injuflice  beyond  Barbarity  to  envy  him, 
"  And  thus  God,  who  is  all  juft,  denies  not  even 
"  to  F'/'ogs  the  Pleafure  of  being  charmed  with 
^'  their  ov/n  Mufic."     M.  Pa/chars  Letters, 

An  Account  of  the  Confecration  of  Archbifhop  Par- 
ker, and  the  Fable  of  the  Nag's-Head  confuted^ 
by  Bifhop  Burnet. 

"  On  the  8th  Day  of  July  the  Conge  d*  Elire 
was  fent  to  Canterbury  •,  and  upon  that,  on  the  2 2d 
of  July^  a  Chapter  was  fummoned  to  meet  the 
?ir^  oi  Auguft '^  where  the  Dean  and  Prebendaries 
pieeting,  they,  according  to  a  Method  often  ufed 
in  their  Eledions,  did  by  a  Compromife  refer  it  to 
jthe  Dean  to  Name  whom  he  pleafed :  and  he 
naming  Dodor  Parker^  according  to  the  .Queen's 
Letter,  they  all  confirmed  it,  and  publifhed  their 
Eledion,  finging  fe  JDeum  upon  it.  On  the  9th 
oi. September  the  Great  Seal  was  put  to  a  Warrant 
for  his  Confecration,  directed  to  the  Bilhops  of 
'Burefme^  Bath  and  JVells^  Peterborough^  Landaff 
1  and  to  Barlow  and  Scory  (ftiled  only  Billiops,  not 
being  then  eleded  to  any  Sees)  requiring  them 
to  confecrate  him.  From  this  it  appears,  that 
neither  Tonjialy  Bourn  nor  Pool  were  at  that  Time 

turned 


^^4  A  N     A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X. 

turned  out :  It  feems  there  were  fome  Hope  of 
gaining  them  to  obey  the  Laws,  and  fo  to  continue 
in  their  Sees. 

"  This  Matter  was  delayed  to  the  6th  of  De- 
cember, Whether  this  flowed  from  Parker's  Un- 
vvilhngnefs  to  engage  in  fo  high  a  Station,  or  from 
any  other  fecret  Reafon,  I  do  not  know.  But  then 
the  Three  Bifhops  lafl  named  refufmg  to  do  it, 
a  new  Warrant  pafTed  under  the  Great  Seal,  to 
the  Bifhop  of  Landaff,  Barlow  BiHiop  Eled  of 
Ckichefter,  Scory  Bifhop  Eled  of  Hereford,  Cover- 
dale  late  Billiop  of  Exeter,  Hodgkins  Bilhop  SufFra- 
^  gan  of  Bedford,  John  Suffragan  of  Thetford,  and 
^':F^^/^  Bifhop  of  Offory;  that  they,  or  any  Four  of 
them,  fhould  confecrate  him.  So  by  Virtue  of 
this,  on  the  9th  oi  December,  Barlow,  Scory,  Cover- 
dale  and  Hodgkins,  met  at  the  Church  of  "i"/.  Mary 
le  Bow,  where,  according  to  the  Cuftom,  the 
Conge  d'  Elire,  with  the  Election,  and  the  Royal 
AfTent  to  it,  were  to  be  brought  before  them: 
and  thefe  being  read,  WitnefTes  were  to  be  cited 
to  prove  the  Eledion  lawfully  made ;  and  ail  who 
would  objed-  to  it  were  alfo  cited.  All  thefe 
Things  being  performed  according  to  Law,  and 
none  coming  to  objed  againfl  the  Eledion,  they 
confirmed  it  according  to  the  ufual  Manner.  On 
the  J  7th  of  December,  Parker  was  confecrated  in 
the  Chapel  o^  Lambeth,  by  Barlow,  Scory,  Co- 
verdule,  and  Hodgkins,  according  to  the  Book  of 
Ordinations  made  in  Y^g  Edward' sT\mt\  Only  ,, 
the  Ceremony  of  putting  the  Staff  in  his  Hands  |l 
was  left  out  of  the  Office,  in  this  Reign.  He 
being  thus  confecrated  himfelf,  did  afterwards 
coniecrate  Bifhops  for  the  other  Sees:  namely, 
Grindal  Bifhop  oi  London,  Cox,  that  had  been  King 
JE.dzvard'j  Almoner,  Bifhop   of  Ely,  Hgrn  Bifliop    , 

of 


A  N    A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X.  125 

of  Winchefter^  Sandys  Bilhop  of  Worcefter^  Merick 
Bifhop  of  Bangor^  Young  Bifhop  of  St.  David' s^ 
BuUingham  Bilhop  of  Lincoln,  Jewel  Bifhop  of  ^^- 
lijbury  (the  great  Ornament  of  that  Age  for  Lear- 
ning and  Piety  •,)  Davis  Bifhop  of  6"/.  Afaph,  Guejl 
Bifhop  of  Rochefter,  Berkley  Bifhop  of  Bath  and 
Wells,  Bentham  Bifhop  of  Coventry  and  Litchfieldy 
Alley  Bifhop  of  Exeter,  and  Far  Bifhop  of  Feter- 
borough.  Barlow  and  Scory  were  put  into  the  Sees 
of  Chichefter  and  Hereford.  And  fometime  after 
this,  \n  February  1561,  Toung  was  tranflated  from 
St.  David's  to  Tork  -,  there  being  now  no  Hopes 
of  gaining  Heath  to  continue  in  it :  which  it  feems 
had  been  long  endeavoured,  for  it  was  now  Two 
Years  that  that  See  had  been  in  Vacancy.  In  like 
Manner,  after  fo  long  waiting  to  fee  if  Tonftal 
would  conform,  there  being  now  no  more  hope 
of  it,  in  March  1561,  Filkington  was  made  Bifhop 
of  Durefme.  Beji  was  afterwards  made  Bifhop  of 
Carlijle,  and  Downham  Bifhop  of  Chefter. 

"  I  have  given  the  more  diflindt  Account  of 
thefe  Promotions,  becaufe  of  a  malicious  Slander 
with  which  they  were  afperfl  in  aftertimes.  It  was 
not  thought  on  for  Forty  Years  after  this.  But  then 
it  was  forged,  and  pubhfhed,  and  fpread  over  the 
World,  with  great  Confidence,  That  Farker  him- 
felf  was  not  legally  nor  truly  confecrated.  The 
Author  of  it  was  faid  to  be  one  Neale,  that  had 
been  fometime  one  of  Bonner's  Chaplains.  The 
Contrivance  was,  that  the  Bifhop  oi  Landaffh^'m^ 
required  by  Bonner  not  to  confecrate  Farker,  or  to 
give .  Orders  in  his  Diocefs,  did  thereupon  refufe 
it :  Upon  that  the  Bifhops  Eled:  being  met  in 
Cheapftde  at  the  Nag's-Head  Tavern,  Neale,  that 
had  watched  them  thither,  peeped  in  through  an 
Hole  of  the  Door,  and  faw  them  in  great  Dit- 

order^ 


126  A  N    A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X; 

order,  finding  the  BiHiop  of  Landaff  was  intract- 
able. But  (as  the  Tale  goes  on)  Scory  bids  them 
all  kneel,  and  he  laid  the  Bible  upon  every  one  of 
their  Heads  or  Shoulders,  and  faid,  Take  thou  Au- 
thority to  -preach  the  Word  of  God  fmcerely^  and  fo 
they  rofe  up  all  Bifhops.  This  Tale  came  fo  late 
into  the  World,  that  Sanders  and  all  the  other 
Writers  in  Queen  ElifahetFs  Time,  had  never 
heard  of  it :  otherwife  we  may  be  fure  they  would 
not  have  concealed  it.  And  if  the  Thing  had 
been  true,  or  if  Neale  had  but  pretended  that  he 
had  feen  any  fuch  Thing,  there  is  no  Reafon  to 
think  he  would  have  fuppreffed  it.  But  when  it 
might  be  prefumed  that  all  thofe  Perfons  were 
dead  that  had  been  prefent  at  Parker''s  Confecra- 
tion,  then  was  the  Time  to  invent  fuch  a  Story ; 
.for  then  it  might  be  hoped  that  none  could  contra- 
di6b  it.  And  who  could  tell  but  that  fome  who 
had  feen  Bifhops  go  from  Bow-Church  to  dine  at 
that  Tavern  with  their  Civilians,  as  fome  have  done 
after  their  Confirmation,  might  imagine  that  then 
was  the  Time  of  this  Nag's-Head-Confecration.  If 
it  were  boldly  faid,  one  or  other  might  think  he 
remembered  it.  But  as  it  pleafed  God,  there  was 
one  living  that  remembered  the  Contrary.  The 
old  Earl  of  Nottingham,  who  had  been  at  the  Con- 
fecration,  declared  it  was  at  Lambeth,  and  defcribed 
all  the  Circumflances  of  it,  and  fatisfied  all  reafon- 
able  Men  that  it  was  according  to  the  Form  of  the 
Church  of  England.  The  Regifters  both  of  the 
See  of  Canterbury,  and  of  the  Records  of  the 
Crown,  do  all  fully  agree  with  his  Relation.  For 
as  Parker''s  Conge  d"  Elire,  with  the  Queen's  AfTent 
to  his  Eledion,  and  the  Warrant  for  his  Confe- 
cratipn,  are  all  under  the  Great  Seal :  So  upon  the 
Certificate  made  by  thofe  who  cgnfecrated  him,  the 

Tempo- 


A  N    A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X.  127 

Temporalities  were  reftored  by  another  Warrant 
alfo  enrolled-,  which  was  to  be  fhewed  to  the  Houfe 
of  Lords  when  he  took  his  Place  there.     Befides 
that  the  Confecrations  of  all  the  other  Bifhops  made 
by  him,  fhew  that  he  alone  was  firft  confecratcd 
without  any  other.     And  above  all  other  Teflimo- 
nies,  the  original  Inftrument  of  Archbifhop  Par- 
ker's Confecration  lies  ftill  among  his  other  Papers 
in  the  Library  of  Corpus-Chrifti  College  at  Cam- 
hridgCj  which  I  faw  and  read.     It  is  as  manifeftly 
an  original  Writing,  as  any  that  I  ever  had  in  my 
Hands :  I  have  put  it  in  the  Collection,  for  the 
more  full  Difcovery  of  the  Impudence  of  that 
Fidlion.     But  it  ferved  thofe  Ends  for  which  it  was 
defigned.     Weak  People  hearing  it  fo  pofitively 
told  by  their  Priefts,  came  to  believe  it ;  and  I  have 
myfelf  met  with  many  that  feemed  ftill  to  give 
fome  Credit  to  it,  after  all  that  clear  Confutation, 
of  it,  made  by  the  moft  ingenious  and  learned 
Bifhop  Bramhall^    the    late    Primate    of  Ireland. 
Therefore  I  thought  it  neceflary  to  be  larger  in  the 
Account  of  this  Confecration  ;  and  the  rather,  be- 
caufe  of  the  Influence  it  hath  into  all  the  Ordina- 
tions that  have  been  fince  that  Time  derived  down 
in  this  Church.'*     Hiftory  of  the  Reformation^  Vol. 
II.  Page  402. 


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